Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill
Azira Gonzalez Hill, referred to as Atlanta’s Angel for her works as a civil rights activist and nurse, was born in Holguin, Cuba, on October 28, 1923, to a large working class family of eight siblings. As a young woman, Hill worked diligently as a student to provide opportunities that would enable her to flourish outside of Cuba; because of her academic achievements, she was finally afforded the opportunity to come to the United States to study through her church. Hill attended Bethune Cookman, Morris Brown, and Georgia State University, ultimately becoming a registered nurse. Hill married Jesse Hill, a prominent civil rights figure, with whom she had two daughters.
Hill worked as a nurse at Grady Hospital Educational Department, Price High School, and Ralph Bunche Middle School, before her retirement. After her retirement, Hill remained an active member of Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church; the Azalea Links, Inc.; the Inquirer Literary Club; the Circlelets; and the Quettes. Hill also founded the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Talent Development Program at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, which named its scholarship fund in her honor. Hill has been involved with the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Center’s Board of Directors; the Board of Directors of the Center for Puppetry Arts; the Southeastern Flower Show; the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; and St. Joseph’s Mercy Care. In 2008, Hill was named a life director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, an honor which at the time only belonged to five other individuals.
Hill has received awards from the Association of the National Negro Musicians for promoting Black music and musicians, and the Martin Luther King Federal Commission for her service. Hill also received the Golden Rule Award for community service from J.C. Penney; the Ralph Bunche Middle School Medal; the School Nurses Association for Merit and Distinction; the Lexus Leader of the Arts Award; and a Mercy Care Award for Service.
A2005.184
Female
8/4/2005
Hill
Married
Gonzalez Sanchez
Boylan-Haven School
Bethune-Cookman University
Grady Memorial Hospital School of Nursing
Azira
Holguin
HIL10
Spring
South Africa
It's Going To Get Better.

Georgia
10/28/1923
Atlanta
Cuba
Chicken
Civil rights activist and registered nurse Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill (1923 - ) has had a long and prolific career in Atlanta in the areas of school health care and civil rights. After her retirement, Hill became involved in various philanthropic endeavors, most notably her involvement with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, for which she was named a lifetime director in 2008.
Price High School
Grady Memorial Hospital
Bunche Middle School
Big Bethel AME Church
Red
Tape: 1 Story: 1 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill narrates her photographs
Tape: 1 Story: 2 - Slating of Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill's interview
Tape: 1 Story: 3 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill lists her favorites
Tape: 1 Story: 4 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill describes her mother's family background
Tape: 1 Story: 5 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill describes her father's family background
Tape: 1 Story: 6 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill describes her maternal grandparents
Tape: 1 Story: 7 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill remembers her mother supporting the family after her father's death
Tape: 1 Story: 8 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill recalls moving to the United States
Tape: 1 Story: 9 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill remembers her childhood in Holguin, Cuba
Tape: 1 Story: 10 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill lists her siblings
Tape: 1 Story: 11 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill remembers her childhood home in Holguin, Cuba
Tape: 2 Story: 1 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill describes the diversity of her neighborhood in Holguin, Cuba
Tape: 2 Story: 2 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill remembers a supportive teacher from her elementary school years
Tape: 2 Story: 3 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill describes her middle school experiences in Holguin, Cuba
Tape: 2 Story: 4 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill remembers her experiences at Boylan-Haven School in Jacksonville, Florida
Tape: 2 Story: 5 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill remembers her personality and aspirations as a child
Tape: 2 Story: 6 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill describes attending church in Jacksonville, Florida
Tape: 2 Story: 7 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill remembers experiencing exclusion at Boylan-Haven School in Jacksonville, Florida
Tape: 2 Story: 8 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill explains her decision to attend Grady Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Atlanta, Georgia
Tape: 2 Story: 9 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill talks about leaving Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida
Tape: 2 Story: 10 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill remembers returning to Cuba briefly after obtaining her nursing license
Tape: 3 Story: 1 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill describes how Jesse Hill courted her
Tape: 3 Story: 2 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill recalls the strict regulations at Grady Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Atlanta, Georgia
Tape: 3 Story: 3 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill remembers having her two children while working as a nurse
Tape: 3 Story: 4 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill describes her return to work as a school nurse
Tape: 3 Story: 5 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill recalls her and her husband's involvement in the Civil Rights Movement
Tape: 3 Story: 6 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill reflects upon her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement
Tape: 3 Story: 7 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill talks about her connections to Cuba
Tape: 3 Story: 8 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill reflects upon the reception of Latino immigrants in the United States
Tape: 4 Story: 1 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill talks about her philanthropic work
Tape: 4 Story: 2 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill describes her husband, Jesse Hill
Tape: 4 Story: 3 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill talks about her grandchildren's accomplishments
Tape: 4 Story: 4 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill describes the rewards of nursing
Tape: 4 Story: 5 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill reflects upon her life
Tape: 4 Story: 6 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill describes her concerns for the African American and Latino communities
Tape: 4 Story: 7 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill explains her values
Tape: 4 Story: 8 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill describes how she would like to be remembered
Tape: 4 Story: 9 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill explains the importance of history
Tape: 4 Story: 10 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill remembers her best friends
Tape: 4 Story: 11 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill reflects upon her legacy
Tape: 4 Story: 12 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill talks about Big Bethel A.M.E. Church in Atlanta, Georgia
Tape: 4 Story: 13 - Azira Gonzalez Sanchez Hill describes youth programs at Big Bethel A.M.E. Church
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