Dr. Daphine Hill
Daphine G. Hill was born in Hazlehurst, Ms. on January 31, 1952. She graduated from Hazlehurst High School in June, 1970 and received a BA degree in Accounting from Millsap’s College in Jackson, Ms. in May of 1974. After graduation, Daphine went to work for IBM where she remained until she retired in 2006. While at IBM, she gained experiences in many areas including executive management, sales management, project management, consultant and corporate training instructor. Daphine represented IBM as a board member of the Horizon Theater located in Atlanta, Ga. for five years and as a board member of Brand New Hope located in Nassau, Bahamas.
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Daphine received her Master’s in Political Science at Jackson State University in May
2009. While working on her master’s, she was named Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities and she was named a member of Jackson State University’s MU Chapter of Alpha Epsilon Lambda National Honor Society. She obtained her PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from Jackson State University in 2014.
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She has co-authored several publications including one co-authored with Dr. Joan Wesley and published in the Spring 2013 issue of magazine "Progressive Planning," titled "Civil Rights, Technology and Cultural Tourism: The Emmett Till Historic Intrepid Center Museum in Glendora, Mississippi. She published her first book in 2013 “The Black Voter Turnout in Copiah County in the 2008 Presidential Election” and her second in 2016 “The Many Faces of Hazlehurst.” She is currently completing two other books. One is fictional modern day fairy tales about her grandchildren and the second is a Family and Friends cookbook with stories on how the recipe came about.
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Daphine is currently employed at Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi as Development Director. She has written and managed several grants (corporate foundations, private foundations, state grants and federal grants) totaling approximately $10 million over the past 4 years.
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She is also actively involved in the community; currently serving as President of the Calling Panther Heritage Foundation (which she founded) and Secretary/Treasurer of the We Care Mississippi organization. She has also served as Hazlehurst Historic Preservation Commissioner, and as Secretary for the Mississippi Heritage Trust organization.
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Daphine received a commendation from the Mississippi State Legislature (House Resolution 57) recognizing and commending her on a multitude of career successes and renowned awards bestowed upon Dr. Daphine G. Hill. She was also awarded “Restoration Project of the Year” from the Mississippi Heritage Trust for her work to restore the historic Millsaps Hotel. In addition she received the Community Service Award in 2025.
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Daphine spearheaded the acquisition of the historic Millsaps hotel in downtown Hazlehurst. To date she has raised $1.7 million for the restoration of this historic building. The building which is owned by the Calling Panther Heritage Foundation is currently the home of the Copiah Unit of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi, which the foundation is providing to the Club at no cost. Daphine worked with Representative Holloway and James Mitchell to bring the Boys & Girls Clubs to Hazlehurst, Ms.
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In the four years that Daphine has been with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi (BGCCM) she has brought in more than $10 million for the support of the youth attending BGCCM clubs in Hinds County and Copiah County.
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Daphine is married to Travis Hill, and they have five daughters and two granddaughters. She is a member of Greater Mt. Zion Church of God in Christ. Daphine and her family resides in Hazlehurst, MS.