James Elwood Hall, Jr.

Dr. James “Jim” Elwood Hall, Jr. February 21, 1943 – April 13, 2021 On April 13, 2021, Jim Hall was called home after 78 years of good and faithful service to God, his family, and his community. He will be remembered as a loving, funny, wisecracking family man, musician, dentist, dedicated Christian, and proud Florida Gator. Jim was born to J. E. “Bud” Hall and Margaret Jernagan Hall on February 21, 1943 in Pensacola, Florida. He was the second of three children. His parents were both educators – his mother a teacher and his father a coach, principal, and district superintendent. They instilled in him early on the importance of hard work and studies. Jim graduated from Escambia High School in 1961 where he played football and basketball. He was in the first Hall of Fame class at Escambia, selected as an outstanding scholar athlete for the state of Florida, and voted “Best All Around” his senior year. Jim then attended the University of Florida where he played football as a kicker and quarterback. Afterwards, he attended Dental School at the University of Alabama in Birmingham where he graduated with a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry degree. During his school years, Jim found a way to play music wherever he went playing his guitar with bands locally and in both Gainesville and Birmingham. While in Birmingham, Jim met the love of his life, Karen Miller, and they were married in 1968. After Dental School he spent 2 years as a dentist in the United States Army in North Carolina. Jim and Karen returned to Pensacola in 1971. Jim kept a dental practice in the Pensacola area from 1972 to his retirement in 2008. In Pensacola, Jim and Karen raised 5 rambunctious boys who were the joy of their lives. Jim loved his family more than anything and he never let them forget it. They shared many good times together over the years spending time on the bay, playing sports and games, cheering on the Gators, and of course playing music. Jim’s greatest passion, besides his family, was music. There was always music in the Hall household thanks to Jim. He had an eclectic taste and could often name a song, the artist, and the release year after hearing just the first few chords. He kept guitars everywhere in the house and he passed his passion for playing music on to all his boys. Some of his happiest times were when his boys played instruments or sang along with him whether it was publicly or just sitting around the house. In addition to playing, Jim loved to write. Writing songs was one of his life-long ambitions. He was known to even make up songs about the ones he loved. He was always taking down notes or talking into one of his many tape recorders. Music was a big part of Jim’s life and he liked to share it with anyone he could. Jim also loved to play music at church whenever he got the chance. Jim’s faith was central to his life and he was an ardent student of the Bible. He was a long-time member of Pine Forest United Methodist Church where his family has been a part of the congregation since its inception. He and Karen also attended Gonzalez United Methodist Church for several years when the twins were born. While practicing as a dentist, Jim took several medical mission trips to Central America with both churches. He was always ready to help the church in any way he could. Over the years, Jim was blessed to know so many great people: friends from growing up in Pensacola and from Escambia High School, the Silver Sixties crew (his teammates from the University of Florida and their families), great staffs and wonderful patients from his dental practice, musicians and friends from all the places he played, songwriting buddies from Pensacola and Nashville, his long-time lunch group from Smokey’s, friends and family from church, and many more. Jim’s life was full because of all these special relationships, and he was grateful for each one of them. A loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother, Jim will forever be loved and remembered by his wife of 52 years, Karen; sisters Helen Correll (Ward) and Susan Hall; sons Jay (Kim) of Nashville, TN, Jody of Pensacola, Casey of Houston, TX, Kyle and Jacob of Pensacola; granddaughters Ashley, Kiara, and Piper; grandson Alex (Alisha); and a host of other relatives and friends. A private funeral will be held with Jim’s immediate family. A public celebration of Jim’s life will hopefully be held at a later date when it is safer to gather in larger groups. Jim’s ashes will be interred in the columbarium at Pine Forest United Methodist Church Cemetery. A special thanks to Emerald Coast Hospice for the care they provided to Jim and his family in his final months. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jim’s honor to the music ministry at Pine Forest United Methodist Church.

Tributes

James Elwood Hall, Jr.

February 21, 1943 - April 13, 2021