Mrs. Edna Montgomery Hiller

Edna Montgomery Hiller was born September 14, 1932 in Hopkins, SC. She was the second child of Richard Montgomery and Oneida Gallman Montgomery. She was united in marriage to the late Trustee William Swan Hiller, who preceded her in death. “Bay” as she was affectionately known began her formal education in a one-room Siloam School founded by her grandfather, the late educator, Reverend Harrison Gallman, who also baptized her at an early age, while he was Pastor of Siloam Baptist Church. Her mother was a church musician who chauffeured her father to Siloam, Mt. Moriah and other churches he pastored. Her first teacher at Siloam School was her mother. After moving to Columbia, she attended Waverly School and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, where she was a cheerleader. She later joined Bethlehem Baptist Church of Lyon Street in Columbia, SC. Professionally, she worked at the telephone company before settling into a career at the SC State Hospital on Bull Street. After working her way up from a glassware washer, she spent the last 24 years as a laboratory technician and retired at the age of 55 after 35 years. After her marriage to Mr. William Swan Hiller, she moved her membership to Trinity Baptist Church. While there, she continued a family tradition of singing the Songs of Zion. At Trinity, she distinguished herself as a vocalist with operatic soprano renditions of songs such as “He Would Not Come Down from the Cross”, "I Want to Know” and “Order My Steps”. Mrs. HIller's second cousin, Madam Edna Gallman Cooke, daughter of her great uncle, Rev. Eddie Gallman, was a world renowned gospel singer. After Trustee Swan Hiller’s death, she was appointed to fill his vacant seat on the ministry. For the past decade she held the title of Trustee emeritus of Trinity Baptist Church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Deacon Richard (Bo-Monk) Montgomery, Jr. She leaves to cherish many meaningful and fond memories, her son, Reverend Ivan Goodwin, Jr. (Wilma Ward) of Columbia, SC; three grandchildren, Ivan B. Thomas, Denver, CO, Quinn J. and Jason P. Goodwin of Columbia, SC; five great grandchildren, May Thomas, Nezzie Thomas, of Denver, CO and Londyn Goodwin of Columbia, SC; Darreon La` Boo, of Temple, Texas and James J. Davis of Columbia, SC; six step grandchildren one sister-in-law, Thelma Montgomery of Orlando, FL; two god daughters; cousins, Marian Easter and Donna J. Gilbert and a host of other loving relatives and friends and brothers and sisters in Christ Services will be held 2:00 pm Sunday, December 22, 2013 at Trinity Baptist Church, with interment to follow in the Crescent Hill Memorial Gardens. The family request that condolences and memorials be made on their webpage at www.palmermemorialchapel.com

Mrs. Edna Montgomery Hiller

September 14, 1932 - December 17, 2013