An Immeasurable Life
If life is measured not by the minutes you breathe but by the minutes that life takes your breath away, I would argue the lasting legacy and impact you leave behind—giving life to others—would multiply the value of a life well lived, making it immeasurable. I’m confident that Calynne Andrews Hill lived a life that defies measurement. Her impact will linger in Tallahassee and within the people who had the pleasure of knowing her or receiving the rewards of her life’s work.
Calynne passed away on February 16, after a yearlong battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), but that is not what she is remembered by. Rather, she is remembered through her philanthropic contributions, good works, service, courage, sense of humor, and natural beauty inside and out.
My first experience with Calynne was back in 2012, through her contributions as Tallahassee Magazine’s fashion and lifestyle editor, a title she shared with Terra Palmer. I was in awe of their grace, charisma, and ability to curate the most fabulous fashion trend features. I found these women not only to be absolutely stunning on the outside, but more importantly, their beauty started from within.
“She was the kind of friend everyone dreams of—fiercely loyal, endlessly supportive, and full of laughter,” says Terra. “She made you feel like the most important person in the world, lifting you up, pushing you forward, and never letting you feel alone. Even in the face of ALS, she chose love, adventure, and giving back, never once asking ‘Why me?’ but instead embracing life with grace and gratitude. She was a rare light, filling every heart she touched, and though she’s gone, her love and spirit will never fade.”
Calynne always had a smile on her face and the most generous heart. Everything she did she enjoyed to the fullest. I can remember photo shoots and meetings filled with laughter. She is the type of person I envisioned myself hopefully becoming one day.
She was a modern-day pioneer woman who, in my opinion, lived 10 lifetimes of experiences. After she graduated from Virginia Intermont College and Appalachian State, she moved to New York City to model and continued modeling in Miami and Tallahassee. She went on to work as a restaurateur and caterer prior to getting her real estate license to launch a successful brokerage: Hill, Spooner & Elliott.
“There are not enough words to describe her; I can’t stress that enough,” says Hettie Spooner, Calynne’s friend and business partner at Hill, Spooner & Elliott. “She was genuine, kind, thoughtful, and so positive. She was the kind of person everyone wanted to be with; we literally would fight over having time with her—just a truly magnetic person. She was of course beautiful, but really it was her spirit that was the true beauty. She had an infectious laugh that will live with me forever. But I think if you asked everyone, we would all agree that the one word that describes our time with her is grateful. She brought so much into all of our lives. She taught us to give back, forgive, pay it forward, never forget where you come from, be open-minded, and believe in yourself.”
I believe one of the sweetest gifts life has to offer is to love and to be loved. That was the beautiful example of Calynne and her husband, Lou. Married for more than 30 years, they shared all of life’s adventures and experiences. Their extensive collection of art, artifacts, and oddities holds memories of their archaeological findings—a passion Lou shared with Calynne. They donated many of these pieces to museums throughout the country, including the Smithsonian and the American Folk Art Museum.
This time of year, as we celebrate Mother’s Day, I remember Calynne as a mother to our community. May we strive to live a life as full as she did. My hope for this letter is not only to honor and thank Calynne for the inspiration and love she has shared with many, but to inspire you to start now and live each day a little more courageously. Don’t let anything hold you back from taking the next step forward to the beautiful life you want to live.
