Zel with her brother Marty. Nothing made her smile bigger than spending time with her baby brother.
Zella Hall – a daughter, a mother, a wife, a grandmother, a great-grandmother – Heritage Village Dignitary Extraordinaire! I had the honor of coming into her life in 2002 and it felt like a lesson in family respect, a lesson in history, and in love – love for her grandkids, especially. Although Zel (“Nanny” to the kids) could have a serious face when she was all about business, the brightest light in any room was when she perked her lips in smile. The corners of her shaky-lip-sticked lip edges would take flight, her rouged cheek bones would pop out, and eyeshadow-touched lids would almost disappear as her eyelids did huge push-ups to balance the grin! Decked out as if she was going to the ball every chance she got – she was always the best-dressed in the super market or the Cracker Barrel. Whether one of her grandkids or I was the one lucky enough to be parked down by her side, we knew (we would hope!) we would soon be enlightened with a childhood or adult memory of Zel’s. We would sit in awe and amazement as Nanny recapped a vivid memory in her life – of her many world travels or grand galas with Bob (her husband) or of her own childhood – as if it was yesterday – many times it was a distant memory –and soon Zel would lose herself in the memory which soon became present day to her – and again, her smile returned. Many great memories of Zel live on in my heart and my soul and there’s always a little something to reach for each day to pull up and provoke a little one of those full-face, colorful smiles she was so good at! You are missed in our hearts Zella Hall.
Sara Shaw