Columbus County Clerk of Superior Court Jess Hill is the new chairman of the Boys & Girls Homes Board of Trustees. He is the first second-generation board chairman for the organization, following in his father Jim Hill’s footsteps. James Earl Hill, Jr. actively served on the BGHNC Board for 11 years and as Board Chair for two years. Jess Hill is following Gary Cooper’s tenure serving as Board Chair 2026-2028.
“It is truly an honor to be named board chair to help ensure that every child in need has a safe place to call home,” Hill said. “Gary Cooper has served BGHNC as board chair with professionalism, grace and passion. As a Kiwanian, he has lived the slogan ‘improving the world one child and one community at a time.’ Being able to follow in his footsteps is truly humbling and an honor. BGHNC is stronger because of Gary Cooper.”
Cooper’s two-year tenure was during a time of needed renovations and HVAC repairs on Boys & Girls Homes’ Lake Waccamaw campus as well as funding shifts at the state and federal level.
Through it all, “Gary's leadership always remained calm, focused, accessible, and even fun,” said BGHNC President Marc Murphy. “While his time has ended as Board Chair, I am grateful he remains on the Board of Trustees to continue to support the mission of Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina."
Hill said he respects and hopes to carry on his father’s legacy at the nonprofit.
“I am honored to be the first board chair whose parent also served. My father, Jim Hill, is and always will be my hero,” Hill said. “He taught me the value of faith, hard work, perseverance, service to community and love of your neighbor.”
Murphy said he was honored to get to work with both Jim Hill and his son, Jess Hill.
“More than 20 years ago, I worked several years with Jim Hill while he was on the BGHNC Board of Trustees, and I was the Director of the Foster Care program. Jim Hill was a good leader and a good man. It is with much gratitude that I get the privilege to see Jess Hill now follow in his father's footsteps 16 years after Jim completed his term as Board Chair,” he said. “Jess has already established himself as a passionate supporter of the mission and children of BGHNC and is a hands-on leader of integrity.”
Jess Hill said that every day he carries with him the love his father “had for our Home, the commitment he had to our Home and his dedication to making sure that every child in need has Boys and Girls Homes to call home.”
