Jesse William Hall was born July 11, 1931 in Geneva County Alabama. He passed from this world into the Lord's care 87 years later on July 11, 2018.
He lived as he was raised: as a gentleman of quiet strength and humor, dedication to honor, duty and his Lord, with a strong work ethic. He often whistled or sang when he worked. He grew up and worked on his parents’ farm until he enlisted in the Air Force in August 1950. He served honorably in England and the U.S. until he was discharged in 1954. While stationed at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana, Jesse attended a Billy Graham crusade and was baptized at First Baptist Church of Shreveport where he met, and later married, Elizabeth Gunn.
After his discharge from the Air Force, Jesse earned a B.S. degree in Forestry at Louisiana Tech. Jesse went to work for the U. S. Forest Service following his graduation in 1959. For the next 26+ years, in national forests in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, he built roads and bridges, planted trees, fought forest fires, evaluated and marked standing timber, developed plans for timber management and did his part to implement the LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION ACT OF 1965 through development and execution of land acquisitions. He transferred to Gainesville Georgia in November 1970 as a real estate appraiser for the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests working with private land owners, their attorneys and courthouse personnel across north and middle Georgia.
Jesse dealt with sorrow by helping others. He worked as a volunteer on the Crisis Center’s Help Line for several years following the death of his son Shannon. He built bookcases for school libraries, drove a van for Hall Area Transit transporting elderly or disabled residents and delivered meals. After retiring from the Forest Service, Jesse earned certification as a Master Gardener and spent many hours planting, pruning, weeding and rescuing plants from sites slated for clearing in addition to answering questions as a volunteer on the phone or at the Hall County Master Gardeners Expos.
Jesse was a good husband, father, and grandfather and he delighted in being around his great grandchildren when they came to visit. Jesse’s surviving family span the south from Georgia to Texas.
He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, daughter Sharon, grandsons Stuart and Cody, four great-grandchildren, his sister Mary and cousin Gwen who was so often in his parents’ home she was like a sister as well as a number of nieces and nephews in various parts of the country. He passed down his passion for woodworking, pride in workmanship, creativity and love of music. He was preceded in death by his parents, younger brother and son.
Funeral services are scheduled for Monday, July 16, 2018 at 11:30am at Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel. Rev. Bruce Fields will be officiating. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 9:30 – 11:30 prior to the service on Monday.
Online condolences can be made at www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com. Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Drive, Gainesville, Georgia 30501. 770-297-6200.
