Funeral Services for Mr. Hulon Hillman will be held at 3:00pm, Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at White Plains Holiness Assembly. Bro.Ricky Boler, Bro. Ronnie Adams, and Bro. Danny Napp will officiate.

Visitation will be held Tuesday November 28, 2023 from 5pm-7pm at Milling Funeral Home in Union and also one hour prior to services on Wednesday at White Plains Holiness Assembly.

Hulon Lamar Hillman was born on August 24, 1935.  He is preceded in death by his beloved parents, Ol and Effie Bozeman Hillman; his beloved in-laws, Dow and Lorene Graham; his brothers, W.L. Hillman, R.C. Hillman, Carlton Hillman, Wayne Hillman, Dwight Hillman, and Ollie Hillman, Jr; his sisters, Mary Lou Davidson, Margaret Siler, and Norma Bailey.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Margie Graham Hillman; one son Iran Hillman and wife Pam; one daughter Tanya Boler and husband Ricky; grandsons Corey Boler, Sean Hillman and wife Savannah, Darin Hillman and wife Tiana; granddaughter Aislin Jayroe and husband Jay; great grandchildren Lathan, Jerilyn, Rosie, Ella, Hadley, Swayzee, Tal, Harrison, and Jansen. He is also survived by beloved nieces and nephews.

Hulon Hillman was a man of contradictions, full of paradoxes and complexity. Over the course of 82 of his 88  years of  life, he longed to see his mother who died when he was 6 years old and whom he could hardly remember, and he loved his sister, Mary Lou who mothered him and his siblings. However, unlike many sons-in-law, he loved his mother-in-law, Lorene Graham, with a deep, abiding, and generous love.

He grew up with few resources other than his daddy's and his siblings' love. Because of that and his competitive nature, he became a fierce negotiator for a deal. Often, he would drive miles to get a better deal and would refuse to buy anything he considered overpriced.  He did his research on everything, especially vehicles.  Auto salespeople would be left standing in the lot bemused at what just happened to them as he drove on to the next town, secure in his knowledge of packages, accessories, and list prices. On his last truck purchase, the salesperson had to agree to deliver free from over 3 hours away and to include a bag of chips.  Despite his frugality, he loved the newest, shiniest,  and best things.  He would spend lots of extra money to chrome-out a truck or add 2 extra pieces of trim to something to make it look "right."

Despite his hardscrabble early life, he became known for his most generous heart.  He bought the cakes at the benefits, he sent the people to the Home of Grace, he handed the evangelists the money, he bought the kid the boots, and he gave gifts—--the best gifts.  He showered Margie with whatever she wanted and sometimes more than she wanted.  He was the one to buy the horses, the cameras, and the cars that were his favorite gifts.

He loved to eat good food—lots of food. He counted his bacon strips to make sure that he had enough bacon to balance the other things on his plate but loved getting an extra porkchop on his lunch plate. He had his favorite restaurants, but he dragged his family from many establishments when the food or service was subpar, vowing never to return. His favorite time was Sunday afternoon lunch at his house with Margie's cooking and all his family around him.  However, because of his deep spiritual convictions, for many years he fasted on Sunday, not even drinking water for 24 hours.

With little education and no money, he built, with his sharp intellect, designer's eye, work ethic, and perfectionism, a construction business that would span 50 years.  He quit school in the 6th grade but understood geometry, percentages, fractions, decimals, and design better than the  more educated people who came to work for him.  Some people rely on their friends for their business, but Hulon met with clients and customers, built their houses, and became their friend.

He wore old overalls or blue jeans and much-washed shirts most of the time and was often delighted to be underestimated because of what he was wearing, but he loved to have a crisp blue shirt and a tailored suit ready when he chose.  In the last years of his life, he almost always wore one of his Home of Grace shirts, hoping someone would ask him about it.

Once he found Margie, the one whom his soul loved, and they built their house, he never wanted to live anywhere else; however, he loved to travel.  They traveled to 46 states and 7 foreign countries, often dragging unappreciative children—-exposing them to the wonders of the world. In the last years of his life, however,  he loved traveling to the Mississippi Delta remembering his days of peddling fruit and syrup with his daddy and brothers.

He loved stories–funny stories especially–but stories.  If he met a stranger, within 30 minutes, he would be hearing that story.  He also loved to tell stories, and he learned to tell them quickly because he grew up in a family of talkers. He loved Paul Harvey's stories, Reader's Digest stories, Matt Dillon's and Andy Griffith's stories…..the stories in which both justice and mercy prevail, the little orphaned children find loving homes, and in the end, nobody is hungry, sick, or sad. Yet, he loved old sad songs the best.  George Jones singing "Never Grow Old" would tear out his heart.

Because of health reasons, he had to retire at age 81. Unlike many who dream of retiring, Hulon mourned deeply the loss of his work.  On drives, he looked longingly out the window at building sites.

At age 30, Hulon, who had spent his youth irresponsibly and was often found in the local pool halls and drifting around peddling some, walked out of a revival service when young John David Long was preaching. Instead of being offended, John David followed him into the parking lot steadily preaching.  At John David's urging, he came back in, fell at the altar, and fully surrendered his life to God. For 58 years, he was a prayer warrior, a fervent reader of his Bible, a Sunday school teacher, and a devout leader in his family, his church, and his community.

With God's guidance and Margie's love and help, he built a beautiful life for his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  His two children, Iran and Tanya, were the light of his life, despite his declarations in the last weeks. Their spouses, Ricky and Pam, became his children and were sometimes treated even better.  His four grandchildren, Corey, Sean, Darin, and Aislin, came along at just the right time to bring joy, worry, and another opportunity to shop for vehicles.  The nine great grandchildren brightened the last years of his life with hugs and silliness at home and at church.  He leaves behind a powerful legacy of love, hard work, generosity, and excellence.

Pallbearers: Corey Boler, Sean Hillman, Darin Hillman, Jay Jaroe, Lathan Hess-Boler, and Mitchell Graham