Funeral services for Dr. James Terry “J.T.” Hall, 88, of Oxford and formerly of Leland will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 17, 2014 at First Baptist Church, Leland. He died Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at Baptist Memorial Hospital, Oxford. Burial will be in Leland-Stoneville Cemetery under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Leland.
The youngest of eleven children, the loss of his parents at age twelve was compensated by the love, compassion, and guidance of his older brothers and sisters.
After graduating from Leland High School, he enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific Theater of War during World War II. He participated in the Philippine Liberation, the invasion of Okinawa, and the initial landing of troops in Osaka, Japan.
He was honorably discharged in 1946 and attended Sunflower Junior College (now Mississippi Delta Community College). While attending S.J.C., he married Madge Hammett of Petal, MS, his wife of sixty two years. They were the first married couple to live on the Moorhead Campus in Veteran’s Student Housing.
Dr. Hall received his B.S. Degree from The University of Southern Mississippi in 1949 and continued his education at Ole Miss where he earned his Masters and Doctorate degrees.
His educational experience includes his employment by the State Department of Education as area supervisor of adult education for the Delta Counties for three years. One year as coach and teacher at Arcola High School and ten years in various positions as coach, teacher, elementary principal, and high school principal in the Leland Public School System.
While in Leland, he was employed by the Leland Park Commission as the first director of the Leland Summer Program and later served as a member of the Park Commission. He was also President of the Leland Lion’s Club, President of the Washington County Teacher’s Association and served as Deacon and Sunday school teacher in The First Baptist Church.
He accepted the position of Principal of Greenville High School in 1963 and was promoted to Assistant Superintendent in 1965 where he remained until he was appointed President of MS Delta Community College in 1966. His tenure as president was highlighted by a continuous building program resulting as a moder Comprehensive Community College.
Some civic and professional activities include the following: President of the Association of Junior Colleges, President of the Association of Colleges and Universities, member of the Board of Directors of The MS Economic Council, The Governor’s Select Committee for the Study of Higher Education, The MS Post Secondary Education Planning Board, The Junior College Commission and The National Governmental Affairs Committee of the Amercian Association of Junior Colleges.
Dr. Hall was also a member of the Executive Committee of the Delta Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, a life member of the Board of Directors of Delta Council, the State Private Industry Council of the Job Training Partnership Act of Congress, the Executive Committee on School Accreditation, Commodore of the Greenville Yacht Club, Board of Directors of the West Delta Chapter of The American Red Cross, a director of the M.D.C.C. Foundation, and a member of the State AHEAD Highway Committee.
Dr. Hall was honored in many ways by the faculty, students, alumni and trustees of MS Delta Community College. He was selected as Alumnus of the Year and inducted in the Sports Hall of Fame receiving the Coach Bellipanni Award. The State Legislature, at the request of the M.D.J.C. trustees, faculty, and students proclaimed February 14, 1977 as J. T. Hall Appreciation Day and at his retirement dinner, the Board of Trustees named the college coliseum The “J.T. Hall Coliseum”.
Dr. Hall retired as President in January 1989 after serving 22 1/2 years, and continued to work as a self employed educational consultant. His most notable work as a consultant was A Sudy of Coahoma Community College, and, a study of East MS Community College. Both studies were done in harmony with the State Board of Community/Junior Colleges and the State Legislature. He also served as interim President of M.D.C.C. during the spring semester of 2001 and as interim President of E.M.C.C. for a brief periord of time.
Following the death of his wife of 62 years, he moved to Oxford where he became a member of the North Oxford Baptist Church, met many new friends and was in regular attendance at Ole Miss athletic activities and other events.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Hill Hall; daughter, Linda Hall Branton and husband Nolan; 5 grandchildren, Shelby Edwards (Beth), Alice Bell Edwards Baker (Dustin), Hall Edwards (Liz), GeGe Branton Sinclair (Brian) and West Branton and 8 great granchildren, Shelby Edwards IV, Mary McLean Edwards, Emery Edwards, Maloy Baker, Mary Meyers Baker, Chapel Baker, Ava Sinclair and Powell Edwards.
The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Friday, May 16, 2014 at Boone Funeral Home, Greenville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the M.D.C.C. Foundation, Morehead, MS, The First Baptist Church of Leland, North Oxford Baptist Church or the charity of your choice.