About the Author

The author, Francene Mary Diane Hill, is Kermit’s daughter and youngest child, possessing firsthand knowledge of her mother’s dynamic life and access to ancestry records. Like her older siblings, Hugh Alan Hill, Dr. Augustus Hugh Hill, Jr., and Patrice Smith, Francene literally grew up at Tiny Tot which initially operated on the first floor of their St. Louis, Missouri home. As part of a family business, they worked in various roles from classroom assistant to camp counselor to janitor to bus driver and eventually board member and director. Even after Francene left college and eventually moved away from home, every return visit or holiday included assisting her mother at Tiny Tot in some capacity.

Francene received her B.A. in Psychology from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts and her M.S. in Human and Family Studies from Penn State University in University Park, Pennsylvania.  In 2019, she retired and lives in Silver Spring, Maryland.  Francene has one son, Keith Hill who lives nearby, allowing them to enjoy painting, wineries or glass blowing together.  In her spare time, Francene plays golf, sings karaoke, and travels on no repeat international vacations.  

Tiny Tots in Tiaras and Tuxedos serves as Francene’s tribute to her mother’s legacy, showcasing the experiences of an African American woman entrepreneur prior to the civil rights and women’s rights eras. Since beginning her writing career, Francene has given book readings, performed at The Moth StorySLAM, written freelance articles, and participated in writing groups. 

Kermit’s biography is a valuable reference for aspiring entrepreneurs, historians, anthropologists, sociologists, as well as alumni and parents of Tiny Tot.  At the age of 76, Kermit B. Hill passed away on August 1, 1995, and Tiny Tot School of St. Louis, Inc. continued to operate for 16 more years, ending a 60-year successful run in 2011.   

Join author, Francene Hill as she takes the stage at The Moth StorySLAM in Washington D.C. on July 10, 2023. Performing live from The Miracle Theater, Francene captivates the audience with a hilarious hang gliding trip to Rio de Janeiro.