Edward Hall

Edward Hall (Sr.) transitioned on September 19, 2024, after a brief illness. The funeral services will be held at Sneed Carnley Funeral Chapel & Cremations in Copperas Cove, TX. on October 2, 2024, from noon to 2 p.m. He will be laid to rest (alongside his loving wife of 54 years who preceded him to heaven in 2014) at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, 11463 TX-195, Killeen, TX. at 3 p.m.

Edward Hall (Sr.) was born to Jasper Hall and Hattie Lou (Spicer) Hall on June 7, 1941, in Rocky Point, North Carolina as the second eldest of eight children. As a young man, he displayed qualities of strength, integrity, and perseverance that would later become the essence of the man. Shortly after graduating from high school in Philadelphia, Pa., and becoming a young father, he willingly accepted the responsibilities but learned the difficulty of gaining steady work in 1960s Philadelphia. As a testament to his determination, as told by his loving wife Josephine Deanna (Durbin) Hall, Edward walked miles in the bitter winter cold to apply for work only to learn the factory was re-hiring previously laid-off workers. By the time he returned home his fingers and toes had experienced frostbite. Weighing his options, he joined the U.S. Army only to learn shortly after his enlistment that he was accepted to the police academy which was truly his dream job. Through the years, he and Josephine raised 5 children as a young military family. The family moved to several bases before being stationed at Ft. Cavazos (at the time named Ft. Hood) in Killeen, Texas in 1968. Edward served 22 years while doing 2 tours of duty in Vietnam where he was decorated with the Bronze Star with Valor for his bravery under fire. He retired as a Master Sargent in 1982, and shortly after returned to school to earn a master’s in clinical psychology. During the same period, he and Josephine created Hall’s Residential Treatment Center for troubled youths in the Kempner area. Through this work which spanned two decades, many young people came to know Edward and Josey affectionately as “Mom and Dad.” During this time, they adopted 2 children who originally were a part of their program.

Edward will forever be remembered as a man capable of fixing any mechanical device. In his words, “Jack-of-all-trades, but master of none.” He leaves to cherish his memory his second wife of 6 years, Sandra Hawkins-Hall of Kempner, TX., seven children Edward Hall Jr. (Cindy) of Kempner, TX., Barry Eugene Hall (Janice) of Columbia, SC., Karen Deanna (Hall) Nicholls of San Bernardino, CA., Anthony Lydell Hall of Temple, TX., Nina Michelle (Hall) Eaton of Kempner, TX., Carolyn Marie (Hall) Jackson of Kempner, TX., and Bobby Allen (Linda) of Temple, TX. He is survived by 21 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren.

Edward also leaves siblings Jasper Hall Jr. (Diane) of Franklinville, NJ, Mazelle Williams of Wilmington, NC, and Darryl Hall of Sicklerville, NJ. As well as a multitude of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and nephews who are special to him. With his transition, Edward now joins family members that have gone on before him, his cherished, loving wife Josephine Deanna Hall, his parents Jasper and Hattie Lou Hall, brothers Herman (John) Hall, Willie James Hall, and Joseph Eugene Hall, and sister Deborah Marie (Hall) Bennett who transitioned in June of this year.

We celebrate a blessed life, and one well lived.