Watch: Huntington Street Renamed After Rev. Dr. Agnes Hiller

HUNTINGTON STATION, NY — Reverend Mother Agnes Hiller officially has a street renamed after her in Huntington Station. East 10th Street & New York Avenue now has a plaque bearing "Dr. Agnes Hiller Way" as a memorial to the late Hiller.

Mother Hiller, as she came to be known, served the community throughout her life by taking in dozens of children and organizing various programs to address issues of hunger, drug abuse, teen pregnancy, and families in need.

"There is no one more deserving of such an honor than Dr. Agnes Hiller and the personal sacrifices and immeasurable contributions she made to the Huntington Station and greater community throughout her life, in service of God and the greater good," Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci stated.

Lupinacci likened the snow and rain outside during the Feb. 22 ceremony to holy water sent from Hiller above to bless the ceremony.

The supervisor was joined by Councilman Mark Cuthbertson; Receiver of Taxes Jillian Guthman; Highway Superintendent Kevin S. Orelli; Legislator Tom Donnelly; Rev. Bernadette Watkins; pastors and members of Mt. Calvary Holy Church of Huntington; and Hiller's family.

"Mother Hiller was a remarkable human being," Guthman said. "Her commitment to helping others will be remembered for generations to come. The renaming of East 10th Street, Huntington Station is a fitting acknowledgment of a woman who prioritized helping others in crisis and whose legacy will live on in all of those that she prayed for, mentored, cared for as well as those who had the privilege of observing her acts of love and generosity."

Pastor Emerita Gloria J. Mixon of Mt. Calvary Holy Church of Huntington said the church was honored that Hiller received the street renaming recognition.

"She never made an excuse for not doing something," Mixon said. "Mother used to say this all the time, and I quote, ‘An excuse is just a reason wrapped in a lie.’"

Rene Sykes, Hiller's daughter, said the family was pleased to have "this loving Woman of God" honored.

"She loved everyone and would always say, ‘I may not like what you do but I will always love you!’" Sykes said.

In addition to the Supervisor and Town officials, the Town was also represented at the ceremony by Town Historian Robert Hughes and Irene Moore, Chairperson, African American Historic Designation Council.

Pastors in attendance included Rev. Bernadette Watkins, Huntington Outreach Ministries; Apostle LaRuth Henry, Phebe World Ministry, Central Islip; Bishop-Elect Van Campbell, Lakewood Church For All People, Jamaica; Sr. Pastor Dawn Mixon and Pastor Emerita Gloria J. Mixon, who were joined by leadership and members of the Mt. Calvary Holy Church of Huntington, the site of the street dedication.

Four generations of Hiller's family attended: daughter Rene Sykes; grandchildren Francois Frazier, Laura Spivey, Kim Kahn, Jeff Brewster, and Jacob Watkins; niece Margaret Meyer; great-granddaughter Jeannette Frazier; and great, great-grandchildren Joshua Andrew Brewster and Jasmia Agnes Brewster.

In summer 2019, Rev. Bernadette Watkins met with Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci to discuss honoring Mother Hiller and her contributions to Huntington Station, leading to the street renaming.

Some called Hiller the "Mother Theresa of Huntington Station," according to the town.

The Town Board, at its September 2019 meeting, officially recognized Mother Hiller's work to improve the lives of Huntington Station residents by renaming the block of East 10th Street, from New York Avenue to First Avenue, as East 10th Street/Dr. Agnes Hiller Way.

Agnes Hiller was born in 1904. As a young woman in 1932, she became one of the first members of the newly formed Mt. Calvary Holy Church of Huntington. She later became assistant pastor and then was named pastor of Mt. Calvary Holy Church soon after the church relocated to its present location at East 10th Street. She served as pastor until she retired in 1994 at the age of 90. Hiller died May 18, 2006, at the age of 102.