Michelle Elaine Hanchard

Michelle Elaine (Hill) Hanchard was born to Willie Hill, Jr. and Katie Alice Gohagan Hill in Lawton, Oklahoma. At the age of seven, her family moved from Oklahoma and settled in Jacksonville, Florida. Even as a child, Michelle showed exceptional promise in strength, character, will and intelligence. These traits would also serve her well later in her adult life. Throughout her primary and secondary school years, she dominated in academics, and later in athletics (volleyball & track), earning several individual district and team awards. With an insatiable curiosity and love for learning, she decided to learn American Sign Language while in high school and would even use it to trade secrets with her sister during class.  Michelle went on to pursue degrees at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, earning bachelor and master degrees respectively. UNCC is where she also became a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority and remained an active member in good standing. During her college days, she also played volleyball for the university, traveling the country and abroad to compete. After graduating college, her pursuits led her to Dallas, Texas, where she landed a position with the City of Dallas. It was also here, at the famous Scarborough Faire city event where she met the love of her life, Roman Hanchard, while Roman was sign language interpreting at a Faire sponsored event. Michelle and Roman shared, built and cultivated 27 years of marriage. She would go on to work for the City of Dallas, eventually becoming assistant director of the civil service department, retiring after 34 years of loyal service. 

Michelle was a woman of great faith, varied interests and a lover of life and souls. As a dedicated member of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, she started and served many years in the Sign Language Ministry. Ever the volunteer, Michelle’s community charity of choice was Meals on Wheels, serving countless years. She loved to read books and was an avid Stephen King fan. Oftentimes she would turn on soft jazz or easy listening music during Saturday mornings while Roman and Eric tended to theyard . With her thirst for adventure and conquest, she accomplished her goal of visiting all 50 states before she turned 50 years old, and even collected spoons from every state she visited. She also set a goal to touch all continents before age 70, and made it to the following: Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and of course, North America. She was known for loving Sundays as they were an opportune time to be with family, friends, neighbors and loved ones, and to rest, relax and have quiet time.

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