Mary Ida Hall

Mrs. Mary Hall, age 93 passed away in the early morning hours Saturday, May 15, 2010 in Chautauqua Health and Rehabilitation Center surrounded by her family. She was born April 2, 1917 in Opp, Alabama the last of thirteen children of Solomon Wolf Kelley and Ida Goolsby Kelley. When Mary was two years old she and her family moved to the bay in south Walton County where she lived and she attended school at the old Black Oak School. After she married she and her husband eventually moved to DeFuniak Springs where she was employed at the Lakeside Hospital later working at Florala Memorial Hospital. In her last years she was employed in food service with the Walton County Board of Education. Being of Native American decent she possessed skills and knowledge in natural and spiritual healing techniques and was often called upon by family members, friends and even those from the medical profession to aid in stopping the bleeding in wounds and in natural healing of thrush. Skeptical as some might be, her success rate was far superior to those of advanced techniques. She loved all things of nature, plants, flowers, farming, farm animals and raised hogs, chickens, cows and was an avid fisherwoman. A hard worker all of her life she was completely capable of living off the land. The delight of her life were her grandchildren whom she adored. This grand lady lived a life of honest labor, belief in God and a love for her family and friends. She is preceeded in death by her husband Ellison Hall who passed away in 1998, a son, James Ralph Hall and a great grandson John Benjamin Hall and twelve brothers and sisters.

Among survivors are her son, Raymond Hall and wife Jeanette. Her daughter, Barbara Williamson and husband Charles. Her grandchildren, Lance, Kelley and wife Meredith, David and wife Tanya, Joe and wife Lovie, Chuck and wife Kelly and Cindy and husband Richard. Fourteen great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren also survive.

Floral arrangements are being accepted or memorials may be made in Mrs. Hall’s memory to the building fund at Southwide Baptist Church. A time of visitation will be Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. in Southwide Baptist Church with the funeral service beginning at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday at the church with Reverend Doug Hogg officiating. Burial will follow in the family plot at Southwide Baptist Church Cemetery.