Nita Groves-Hill

A Celebration of Life service for Nita Groves-Hill, age 66, of Cunningham, will be Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at 2:00 PM. Bro. Philip Chambers will officiate. Burial will follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday, June 21, 2022 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Sykes Funeral Home and again on Wednesday from 1:00 PM until the time of service. Nita passed away June 18, 2022 at her loving sister’s home.

Nita was born December 3, 1955, to the late Edwin Wayne Bearden and Juanita Wall Bearden. Nita was a 1973 Graduate of Montgomery Central High School. She went on to graduate from nursing school at Austin Peay State University and began working as a nurse in the OB/GYN unit at Clarksville Memorial Hospital. She married her high school sweetheart, the late Gary Dean Groves in 1973 and they welcomed two sons to the world, Ryan Groves of Memphis, TN and Patrick Groves of Mt. Juliet, TN. The family would tragically lose their husband and father in a car accident in 1983 where she would lean on her faith in the following years to guide and raise her family.

After working several years at Clarksville Memorial Hospital, Nita would go on to be an occupational nurse at State Industries in Ashland City, TVA in Cumberland City and the old Acme Boot Company in Clarksville. During this time, she earned her Bachelor and Masters in Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and was elected to the Clarksville Montgomery County School Board for a number of years representing the Montgomery Central and Cumberland Heights areas. Nita further served her community as an American Red Cross Instructor, President and Vice President of the Clarksville Jaycettes, Trustee of the Mt. Zion Cemetery, as well as the Chairman of the March of Dimes and many other civic organizations.

She would later remarry Ed Hill and they welcomed a beautiful daughter into the family in 1996, Alexis Hill Coone of Bon Aqua, TN. Nita loved watching Alexis play softball and was her number one fan at all the games while cheering her on through her sports career at Austin Peay. Around the same time, Nita realized a lifelong dream of owning her own business, starting the Little Bit of Country Day Care in Cunningham, TN. She would go on to run the community service business for over 15 years while enriching the lives and community of Montgomery County.

Nita was a passionate and loyal friend to all who knew her, and she deeply loved her family. She would host a large family Christmas at the Lil Bit of Country and always made sure her employees felt loved and taken care of while they were a part of her organization. Nita also enjoyed a bargain! Yearly, she would browse the Thanksgiving Ads and be the first one in line on Black Friday to make sure she won the deal that was usually a gift for others. Nita’s wonderful character and relentless drive helped carried her and her family through the good and bad times. She was a godly woman who will greatly be missed by all who encountered her love and grace.

“Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall” Psalm 55:22 Nita is a lifetime member of Mt. Zion Methodist Church in Cunningham, TN.

In addition to her parents and first husband, she is preceded in death by her sisters, Jo Ann Bearden and Nancy Jane Bearden; and granddaughter, Chelsea Groves. Nita is survived by her son, Ryan (Christine) Groves; son, Patrick (Angie) Groves; daughter, Alexis (James) Coone; sister, Carol (David) Williams; grandchildren, Gracen Groves, Grant Groves, Brixxon Coone, Parker Groves; husband, Ed Hill; stepchildren, Derek (Kira) Hill, Joey (Stacey) Hill; uncles, Bill Bearden, Billy Dee Wall; aunts, Judy Wall, Martha Dell Wall; nieces, Lauren Williams, Abby Williams; nephew, Andrew Williams.

Family will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Alzheimer's Association (https://alztennessee.org/give), 478 Craighead Street, Suite 200, Nashville, TN 37204 or Mt. Zion Cemetery in C/O Dawn Smith, 6226 Hodges Lane, Cumberland Furnace, TN 37051.

Please visit Nita's guestbook at www.sykesfuneralhome.com and share a memory with the family.