James Webster Hall, Jr

James Webster Hall, Jr., known to family and friends as Jim or Webber, passed away peacefully at his home in Bay Springs, Mississippi on January 16, 2026, at the age of 79. While his passing was unexpected, he remained active and independent through his final day.

Jim was born on November 7, 1946, in Meridian, Mississippi, to James Webster Hall and Mary Katherine Dennis Hall. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in March 1967 and, after training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969 with the 101st Airborne Division. As a UH-1 Huey pilot and maintenance officer, he earned the Bronze Star and Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters flying combat missions in Northern I Corps. He continued his military career as a helicopter instructor, fixed-wing executive transport pilot, and fixed-wing aviation unit commander. After leaving active duty in 1972, he served in the Army Reserves, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was a life member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association.

Following his active-duty service, Jim pursued higher education, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in 1975 and his MBA in 1976, both from Jacksonville State University in Alabama. He became a Certified Public Accountant in 1983 and built a distinguished career in finance, working for various state entities and hospitals such as the University of Alabama and University of New Mexico. Before his retirement he served in accounting for the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

But beneath this practical exterior was a man of sentiment. For well over a decade, he wore the same Mickey Mouse tie his daughter gave him as a child - almost every single Friday until his retirement. This quiet gesture exemplified who Jim was: stoic and practical on the outside, but deeply caring and loyal underneath.

In retirement, Jim "Webber" Hall enjoyed life on his family's 30-acre property in Mississippi, where he was constantly working on projects - whether repairing the house, working on vehicles, or maintaining the land he loved. He was an avid reader, spending hours with his collection of books. As a man of precision and structure, his personal library was filled with hundreds of books and was meticulously organized using the Dewey Decimal System. He enjoyed Friday lunches with his sister in Hattiesburg and treasured time with his grandchildren, whether working with them on projects, exploring the property and fishing together, or simply sitting quietly and reading side by side.

Jim is survived by his sister, Faye Carol Barlow; his daughter, Rachel Hall Clark; his son-in-law, Austin Hardy Clark; and his three grandchildren: Aaron, Davin, and Adeline Clark. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Webster Hall and Mary Katherine Dennis Hall.

Memorial service: 2pm, Friday, Jan. 30, Colonial Chapel Bay Springs

You can make donations to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to honor Jim's love of reading - donate.imaginationlibrary.com