'Big strong Mike': Friends and family remember Covenant shooting victim Mike Hill

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For the first time in 13 years, 61-year-old custodian Mike Hill will not be making his rounds, saying hello to school children and tending to halls of The Covenant School in Nashville.

Following Monday morning’s mass shooting at the school, Hill was identified as one of six victims shot by Audrey Hale, who was later killed by Metro Police, according to the authorities. 

“Today, my dad lost his life at The Covenant School/Church,” Brittany Hill, one of Hill’s seven children, said in a social media post. “A job that everyone knows he loved. I have watched school shootings happen over the years and never thought I would lose a loved one over a person trying to solve a temporary problem with a permanent solution.”

Jim Bachmann, the founding and former pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church, was Hill’s employer for many years — but more importantly, they were close friends.

Bachmann called him a “strong man of faith.”

“He was just such a wonderful friend,” he said. “My heart breaks for his family.”

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Bachmann founded the church in 1991 and could hardly remember a time that Hill wasn’t a part of his congregation.

“He did the greeting for us, at the door of the church. Mike would always dress to the nines,” Bachmann said, laughing fondly. “Like he was meeting the president! Coat and tie, shoes were shined. He was dapper.”

Hill had a particularly soft spot in his heart for the kids of the church and school.

“He was a very gregarious man,” Bachmann said. “He would always stop everything he was doing to hug my kids. And he knew the name of every kid in that school. … He was just one of those men you couldn’t not like. I don’t think he’s ever made an enemy.”

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According to Bachmann, Hill’s love for the kids showed through in his dedication to his job.

“He’s the guy you call in a pinch. He would always help you out — big strong Mike,” he said. “He was always doing his job — he would always take a vacuum down to the sanctuary on Monday mornings to clean. And I’m sure that’s when Hale happened to come in, this Monday. Mike never had a chance. Had he been up there with the kids, I know he would’ve given his life for them.”

A GoFundMe has been set up by friends of Hill's family, with the original goal of raising $25,000 for funeral expenses. In less than 24 hours, over $159,000 has been raised.

Bachmann praised the strength of the community and the church in such a tragic time.

“That church is a good strong church,” he said.  “They will grieve together, and the community with them. They’ll bounce back and forgive Audrey — they’ll heal, but it’ll take a long time. They’ll keep running the race.”

Bachmann paused, and sighed.

“Mike loved that church,” he said. “He was always in there—joining in, singing songs and worshipping our savior. I feel sure we’ll see him again someday."

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The funeral ceremony for Hill will be held at Bachmann's church--Stephens Valley Church in Nashville-- on Tuesday, April 4, at 11 a.m.

Have a story to tell? Reach Angele Latham by email at alatham@gannett.com, by phone at 731-343-5212, or follow her on Twitter at @angele_latham.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville shooting victim custodian Mike Hill had soft spot for kids