Sylvia Bivens Hall

1938 - 2025

Sylvia Bivens Hall

June 9, 1938 - January 22, 2025

Sylvia Bivens Hall passed away on January 22, 2025, at her home in Prince George, Virginia. She was born in Albemarle, North Carolina on June 9,1938 to Samuel Robert and Anne Connell Bivens. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 51 years, Meredith Edgar (Ed) Hall, Jr.

She graduated as salutatorian of the Chase City High School class of 1955, after which she furthered her education at Longwood College, where she graduated in 3 years with a degree in Education. Sylvia and Ed, who were high school sweethearts, married in 1959. While Eddie attended Virginia Tech, the couple lived in Blacksburg, where Sylvia began her teaching career. Ed, Sylvia, and their children, Mark and Anne later settled in Varina, where Sylvia continued teaching, serving as head of the English Department at Chickahominy Academy from 1974 to 1980, after having earned her Master's Degree in Humanities from University of Richmond. In 1980, Sylvia pivoted to a career in financial services at Branch Cabell and Co. in Richmond, becoming the first woman in the company to serve as a fee-based manager and to earn her Series 8 certification. She retired in 2004 having obtained the position of Managing Director.

After Ed's retirement from Phillip Morris, the couple returned home to Chase City, where they owned and operated Oak Hill Farm, raising registered Angus cattle for over 20 years. Recently, Sylvia relocated to Prince George to be near her children and grandchildren.

Throughout her active life, Sylvia pursued multiple interests, including reading, cooking, gardening, collecting antiques, traveling the United States and the world, and working tirelessly on behalf of her community, serving as treasurer of MacCallum More Museum and Gardens, on the Board of Directors of VCU-Community Memorial Hospital, multiple offices in the Chase City Fortnightly Club, and member of the Tuckahoe Women's Club, to name only a few of her affiliations.

Sylvia is survived by her children, son Meredith Edgar Hall III (wife, Beth) and daughter Anne Hall Hale (husband, Brad); her grandchildren Blythe Hall Boswell (husband, Matt), Devin Hall, Meredith (Meade) Edgar Hall IV, and Hannah Hale Woods (husband, Chris); her great grandchild Ivey Dennard; her sisters Mary Ben Watterson and Sandra (Sandy) Grizzard (husband Durwood); and her nieces Eva West (husband Larry) and Diane Grizzard, as well as her beloved cat, Pewter.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, January 26, 2025, at Wood Funeral Chapel. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. A private interment will be held at the family farm.

Remembrances may be made through contributions to Mecklenburg County Cancer Association, PO Box 94, Clarksville, Va. 23927 or MacCallum More Museum and Gardens, 603 Hudgins St. Chase City, Va. 23924. Wood Funeral Service is serving the family. Condolences may be expressed at www.woodfuneralservice.com.