Ida Hall

IDA MAE WALKUP HALL

Ida Hall, 103, of Valdosta, died peacefully in her sleep on January 17, 2024. She was born in Charlotte, North Carolina on June 28, 1920, the first-born child of John Belk Walkup and Lucy Keister Walkup. Her father was a partner in one of the early Belk stores and later a real estate broker. Her mother was a teacher. After a short time living in Charlotte and Greenwood, South Carolina, she then lived and grew up in McIntosh in Marion County Florida where her grandfather practiced medicine. She attended first through 12th grades in nearby Reddick where she was the Valedictorian of her class at Reddick High School. She later graduated with Honors from Queens College in Charlotte earning a double major in English and Math, obtaining a teaching certificate.

After returning to Florida, she worked for the University of Florida in Gainesville, where she met her future husband, then Lt. James W. Hall from Atlanta, at a U.S.O. dance in 1943. He was stationed at Alachua Army Air Field training for service in World War II. They married on April 2, 1944, at the military chapel in Orlando where he had been transferred. After being separated for about a year while he served overseas in the War effort, they reunited and remained married until his death on December 2, 1987.

Mrs. Hall was a military wife moving between various duty posts in Georgia, Florida, and Missouri for a time, but also for a time lived in Atlanta, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and again in McIntosh while her husband was in Japan. Eventually she settled in Valdosta in 1960 where her husband began a second career as a lawyer. She joined First United Methodist Church in Valdosta in the early 1960s where she volunteered in the library for many years. She worked at Moody Air Force Base in Civilian Service for about 22 years, retiring in the mid-1980s.

In retirement she loved spending time with her two grandsons, traveling, reading, doing crossword puzzles, going to movies with friends and participating in the N.A.R.F.E. organization. She remained strong, self-reliant and independent into her early 90s until her health started to decline. Always positive and good natured she chose to live an understated uncluttered life concentrating on helping her immediate family. Family was most important to her. She was a positive force behind the scenes in helping them in many ways, including particularly with their education. She was very proud of her two grandsons and their education, and very proud to have 3 generations of lawyers in her family.

She is survived by her son and daughter in law, James W. Hall, Jr. and Lynn B. Hall, of Valdosta; her grandson Andrew J. Hall (Nicole B. Hall) of Orlando; her grandson W. Zachary Hall of Alexandria, Virginia; her great grandchildren, Jacob James Hall and Natalie Mae Hall of Orlando; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, James W. Hall (Sr.); and her 5 siblings, John Belk Walkup, James Robert Walkup, Howard Keister Walkup, Lucy Miller Walkup and Adam Clark Walkup.

Ida lived the last 5 1/2 years in the Orchard at Stone Creek Assisted Living. Many thanks go to all her caretakers and health providers, including those at The Orchard and Bethany Hospice.

There will be a private service for the immediate family at a later date. Any contributions in her memory could go to First Methodist Church, Valdosta or a charity of your choice.

Online condolences to the family may be conveyed at www.mclanecares.com

Carson McLane Funeral Home