Elma Savchenko Hill

Elma Mae Savchenko Hill, 92, died peacefully on March 1, 2021 at Arbor Terrace Crabapple, Alpharetta, GA. She was born April 26, 1928 in Makoti, ND to Mary and Peter Savchenko, homestead immigrants from Ukraine. Elma was the youngest of six children, George, Clarence, Vance, Elsie and Lillian.

Elma met her husband, Jarvis Hill of Cartersville, while attending school in Sevierville, TN. Jarvis attended the University of TN and worked at Oak Ridge, while Elma raised their three children, Jarvis Jr., Joan and Duane in Clinton, Oak Ridge, Bozeman, MT and Nashville, TN. Jarvis was a high school choir director.

The Hill family left for Pakistan and India in 1959 as Methodist Missionaries, where Jarvis taught at Forman Christian College in Lahore, W. Pakistan and Woodstock School, Mussoorie, India. Elma enjoyed entertaining other missionary family for teas and dinners and served underprivileged families through Church World Service and CARE. Mrs. Hill was also very musical and sang in the church choir, directed by Jarvis. Their travels took the family around the world; a priceless education in itself!

In 1964 they returned to the States where Jarvis and Elma attended Indiana University in Bloomington. In 1966, the family moved again to Morehead, KY where Dr. Hill was Dean of the Graduate School at Morehead State University. Their travels stopped in Atlanta in 1968 where Joan and Duane finished high school. Jarvis, Jr. had previously joined the Navy. Mrs. Hill remained a wonderful mother and homemaker and enjoyed singing in numerous church choirs. She sang alto in the Choral Guild of Atlanta for many years. Her favorite memories were singing with the Atlanta Symphony Chorus, singing in concerts in France and Belgium, as well as The Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall.

She and Jarvis divorced in 1971 and Elma worked in retail for a few years for Leon Frohsin’s and Rich’s until she began a twenty year career as a Medical Transcriber and Caseload Secretary in the Alcohol and Drug Unit at Georgia Mental Health Institute on Briarcliff Rd. After retiring from the State of Georgia, Mrs. Hill worked part time for United Healthcare.

Besides singing, Elma loved listening to classical music, often from 90.1 FM and her vast collection of recordings. She was an avid gardener and had a very green thumb! She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren preparing amazing meals for family gatherings. She did incredible handiwork with tatting, needlepoint and embroidery. During her late 80’s she took up beading and jewelry making. Elma continued to travel and enjoyed a Wheel of Fortune Cruise to Alaska with her sister, Elsie. She loved the Northwest and visited Anacortes, WA and BC where she photographed vast gardens at Butchart Gardens. Elma’s last big trip, at 88, with Joan, Duane and son-in-law, David Creviston was to Sedona, AZ and on to the Grand Canyon & Meteor Crater before attending a Savchenko Family Reunion in Mesa.

Elma Hill is survived by her sister Lillian, residing in Arcadia, CA. Surviving children are Jarvis Hill, Jr. in Toledo, Ohio, Joan Creviston (David) in Roswell, Duane Hill (Ekaterina) in St. Augustine, FL. Grandchildren are Sandra Jackson, Rebecca Reay, Valerie DeMarco, Elisa Greer (Kevin), Christopher DeMarco (Jessica), Stephen Hill (Rebekah). Great-Grandchildren are James DeMarco, Lian DeMarco, Isabelle Reay, Harrison Jackson, Elinor Jackson, Step-grand-daughter, Nana Benonis.

Mrs. Hill moved from her house in Woodstock, GA, age 90, to Vickery Rose Retirement Community to be closer to her daughter, Joan and son-in-law, David Creviston. In January 2021, Elma needed more assistance and moved to Arbor Terrace Crabapple, where she went to her final resting place.

Due to the Pandemic, a private memorial will be held in Roswell at her daughter’s home.

The family requests considering a donation, in her memory, to Music Mission Kiev, through sacred music assisting widows and orphans in the Ukraine. musicmissionkiev.org; 286 Wilshire Blvd., Casselberry, FL 32707; (407) 699-7172