Dawn Hill Bailey, age 61, entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on September 1, 2026, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Dawn was born February 1, 1965, in Orlando, Florida to David Brew Hill and Delene Reaves Hill.

Dawn graduated from Edgewater High School and The University of Central Florida. Her baccalaureate degree allowed her to teach briefly while her husband David was a student at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary during the early days of their marriage. After that, homemaking and homeschooling were her careers. She was a very supportive pastor’s wife as well. The Lord Jesus saved and called Dawn by His grace when she was a young girl. She lived a life of faith and trust in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. When cancer struck in 2005, she began a journey of faithfulness and witness to God’s glory that continues on. Dawn was loved by all who knew her.

She and David were married January 9, 1988, at First Baptist Church/Orlando. During seminary, they served churches in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Georgia. Other ministry posts included Florida churches, seminary teaching, and military school chaplaincy. Since 2013, their hearts have been knit together with the dear saints of Cottondale Baptist Church, a congregation that has modeled love, grace, support, encouragement, and generosity beyond compare.

Dawn is preceded in death by her parents, David Brew Hill and Delene Reaves Hill; and infant children Baby Boy Bailey and Caroline Grace Bailey.

She is survived by her husband of 38 years David; children Charissa Rivera (Carlos), Claire Christian (Slinger), Catherine Rester (Cameron), and Ethan Bailey; grandchildren Calvin Rester, Coleson Rester, Canaan Rester, Vida Rivera, and Luna Rivera; mother-in-law Fran Bailey and father-in-law Owen Bailey and brother-in-law Brian Bailey; brother John Hill (Rachel) and sister Dana Brenyo (Christopher); cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cottondale Baptist Church, Cottondale, AL; Manderson Cancer Center in Tuscaloosa, AL, and Hospice of West Alabama.