Elder Bobby Gene Hall, Sr.

Savannah - Elder Bobby Gene Hall, Sr. was born on January 4, 1930 in Bessemer (Jefferson County) Alabama. He marched home to Heavenly Zion on Decem-ber 11, 2015. He was nurtured by his mother, Lula Mae Redd-Chappell, Grandmother Mattie Mae Scott, and great grandmother, Melissa Tripp who all preceded him in death. They taught him about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and grounded him in the Word of God. He had a tremendous love for the Lord and received our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at a very early age and was baptized at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Notasulga, Alabama.

He had a younger brother Clarence, (affectionately called "Hamp" ) who also preceded him in death. He attended Tuskegee High School in Tuskegee Alabama where his favorite subject was history.

In 1950 he was inducted into the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War. He earned a Korean Service Medal with a Bronze Service Star and a United Nations Service Medal. Smitten and bitten by the love bug, Bobby Gene met and fell in love with Josephine M. Young in New York City. They were married on May 6, 1951 at Williams Institutional C.M.E. Church in New York, N.Y by the Rev. L.S. White. Through this loving union ten chil-dren were born; Bobby, Corliss, Anita, Donald, Rudolph, Kenneth, Deborah, David, Angela and Jonathan. Bobby and Josephine lived in Brooklyn, N.Y. until retiring to Richmond Hill, Georgia in January 1999.

For many years he was a gospel singer spreading Gods words through song as a tenor with the Monitones of New York City on the Savoy record label. He was hired by the White Castle System in 1957, where he started as a por-ter and was ultimately promoted to the position of Supervisor. He retired in 1992. He was a dedicated employee and passed on a legacy of hard work and commitment as a way to succeed to all the lives he touched.

Bobby was called to become a deacon and was ordained on January 4, 1981 at Calvary Baptist Church in Brooklyn N.Y. under the late Rev. Arthur Cray-ton. Bobby also worked diligently on the Trustee Board at Calvary Baptist Church for over 40 years and was Chairman of the Trustee Board for many years. He also sang with the Male Chorus and the Gospel Choir and acted with the Drama Guild before moving to Georgia.

Deacon Hall joined the Temple of Glory (formerly Garvin Temple) in 1999 where he was a faithful member and also served as Chairman of the Deacon Board and sang with the Mass Choir. He was ordained as Elder on Decem-ber 27, 2000 by the Rev. Matthew Odum.

He later united with First Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church under the Pastorage of Gregory Tyson, Sr. where he served as Chairman of the Dea-con Board for many years and trained three classes of Deacons. Elder Hall continued to be a faithful servant and kingdom builder to the very end. He will be sorely missed for his leader ship, spiritual wisdom, humor and love.

All of his children considered him to be a gifted and talented vocalist, Bible Teacher extraordinaire and a lover of God. The Hall children knew him to be Godly, loving, charming, interesting, charismatic, brave, consistent, dedi-cated, a strict disciplinarian, protective, innovative, insightful, masculine, debonair, well grounded, creative, artistic and faithful. His children affec-tionately called him Father, Daddy, Poppy, Popito, Papito, Blackdaddy, Pa-pa and Big Bad Bob from Brooklyn. His grandchildren affectionately called him Grandpa, Grandpa Bob and Grand Daddy.

He was predeceased by one son, Kenneth. He leaves to cherish and celebrate his memory a loving and dedicated wife of 64 years, Josephine M. Hall; five sons, Bobby Gene, Jr., Donald (Latasha), Rudolph (Janice), David (Sondra) and Jonathan (Monica) . Four daughters; Corliss Hines (Edward-deceased), Anita Davis (Ralph), Deborah Cotton and Angela; 29 grandchildren; Xioma-ra, Tiffany, Jaison, Jamaal, Faatima, Sania, Andre, Justin, Salihah, Christo-pher, Lavonia, Ralph II, Netonda, Samantha, Stephen, Kandice, Khadijah, Yahaira, Andrew, D’nea, Daniel, Jodee, David, Rebecca, Isaiah, Brendan, Donavin, Bobbye, Jasmine; 7 Great Grandchildren, Kaia, Kevin, Justin III, Tyler, Andrew Jr, Brandon and Kelihah and a host of nieces, nephews, fami-ly and friends.

Public Viewing: 12:00 noon – 6:00 p.m., Friday, December 18, 2015 at the funeral.

Funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 19, 2015 at First Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, 4370 ACL Blvd. , Savannah, Ga.

Elder Hall will lie in state at the church on Saturday, December 19, 2015 starting at 9:30 a.m. until hour of service.

Interment: 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 21, 2015 at Beaufort National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family of Elder Bobby Gene Hall, Sr. ask that donations be made to the American Cancer Society.