Janette Hill Deaton

Janette Hill Deaton, a beloved mother, grandmother, and sister passed away on April 15, 2026 in Somerville, Tennessee at the age of 90.

Janette was the daughter of Alfred Frank Hill and Dorothy Margaret Scott Hill, born on August 4, 1935 in Memphis, Tennessee. She graduated from Central High School in Memphis and continued her education at Union University and Memphis State. She dedicated 35 years to the Memphis City School system, where she taught with patience, kindness, and a genuine love for her students. Teaching wasn’t just her profession—it was her calling.

After retiring, she moved to Somerville, Tennessee, where she embraced a full and joyful life. She was an active member of First Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir, participated in Bible studies, planned senior citizen trips, and volunteered for Vacation Bible School. She rarely missed an opportunity to be involved.

Janette had quite the energetic spirit—she truly never met a stranger. She loved the Lord deeply, and that love showed in the way she cared for people. She found happiness in the simple things: her children, her love for quilting, spending time with her sisters and brother, going on senior citizen trips, keeping up with her many grandchildren and taking long walks with her beloved dog, Tootsie.

Janette was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her three children, Diane Rhodes and her husband Sandy of Little Rock, Arkansas, Terri Manning and her husband Emerson of Statesville, North Carolina, and Don Deaton and his wife Denita of Mason, Tennessee; 10 grandchildren, Eric Newman, Rachel Orr (Joel), Bo Rhodes (Devyn), Katie Robertson (Tyler), Jordan Davis (Marc), Emily Manning, Emerson Manning (Kimberly), Josh Hudson (Hannah), Luke Deaton and Ashleigh Deaton; and 15 great-grandchildren, Noah, Adi, Edie, Jane, Will, Hattie, Rhodes, Audrey, Sadie, Frances, Nathan, Lucas, Julian, Dayleigh, and sweet baby Harvey Rhodes coming in August; her sisters Dorthy Goode (Danny) and Sharon Finch (Glyn); and her brother Bill Hill (Susan), along with many loving nieces and nephews.

Her spunk, kindness, and unwavering faith will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

A celebration of Janette’s life, where family and friends will gather to honor her, will be held at First Baptist Church in Somerville, Tennessee on Sunday, April 26th at 3:00 p.m. There will be a visitation prior to her service that will begin at 2:00 p.m.