The beloved Marlene Hill-Gresham was born November 10, 1953 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Martin Banks and Leanna Banks, who also precedes her in death. Marlene went to Hughes High School and graduated in 1971, where she was introduced to Daryl Lee-Hill who became her first husband in 1977, who also precedes her in death. She was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio most of her life and worked at Bethesda Oak Hospital which is now called TriHealth, for more than 20 years.
Marlene was well known and loved for her humor, love and her loyalty as a friend to those she left behind. Marlene was very strong-willed, sweet, giving and absolutely funny. She always had you laughing and smiling about everything. She will never be forgotten for the type of mother, sister and friend that she was — she was a protector at heart, a fighter, stable and consistent throughout our lives as she was our heartbeat.
Marlene moved to Lexington, North Carolina where she stayed the last seven years of her life. She was welcomed with a warm southern hospitality and fell in love with the town and the people she met. My mother talked about her church family and friends in North Carolina, was absolutely heart- warming and loving the way strangers took her in as their own family. Marlene was able to re-establish her life and consis-tency and was very grounded with her church family at Files Chapel Baptist Church. She met many friends who she loved dearly. I would like to personally thank Ruth Pate, Wilma and Bufford Woods for the love and friendship they expressed to my mother. Bufford checked in on her everyday and was able to intervene in times of emergencies. We will never forget your acts of love. Thank you Bufford and Ruth and all her Lexington family. Bump, my mother loved you. She always talked about you. We here in Cincinnati love you all for loving our mother, sister and friend.
Marlene Hill-Gresham leaves in loving memory: four daughters, Helena Banks, Kiesha Banks, Shanail Banks and
Tyiesha Hill; five sisters and two brothers, Victoria Hall, Linda Banks, Gail Banks, Maisha Banks, Marilyn Banks-Kennedy, Martin Banks and Ellis Banks; 13 grandchildren, 13 cousins and a host of other relatives and friends.