Mrs. Mabel Grooms Hall, age 98, of Florence, SC passed away on February 19, 2019. Mrs. Hall was born Aug. 15, 1920, in Charleston, SC, the daughter of the late Robert Cleveland Grooms and Edna Eadie Grooms. She graduated from both Murray Vocational High School and Memminger High School in Charleston, SC. After graduating from North Greenville Junior College she graduated from Coker University in Hartsville, SC, where she was awarded the Chambers Greek Palm for four years of excellence in English and was a member of Sigma Tau Delta, National English Fraternity.
After her marriage she attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX with her husband and graduated with a Masters of Religious Education degree. Mrs. Hall was active in many Baptist church programs starting in her youth at Citadel Square Baptist Church in Charleston. Through the years she has at various times and churches served as Sunday school teacher; an officer and teacher in Women’s Missionary Union and leader of Young Women’s Auxiliary and Girl’s Auxiliary which have now been renamed. She was also a great music lover and sang in many choirs and served as director of children’s choirs. She was an avid reader and enjoyed working in her garden.
When Mrs. Hall and her husband moved to Richmond, VA she attended Virginia Commonwealth University and earned Certification in Library Science for the state of Virginia. She was a media specialist for Richmond Public Schools and was constantly finding ways to assist classroom teachers, whom she always championed, and was creative in developing interesting and innovative ways to encourage students to read. She was frequently asked to lead workshops or conferences to share her many interesting and exciting programs.
Mrs. Hall was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Dr. Thomas O. Hall, Jr.; brothers Cleveland O. Grooms, Johns Island, SC and Wilson W. Grooms, Grays, SC; and sister Mrs. Eva Grooms Rigney, Johns Island, SC. She is survived by her son, Thomas O. Hall, III, of Florence, SC; and several nieces and nephews.
There will be a viewing for family at Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home in Florence on February 27, 2019, from 12 noon to 1 P.M. Graveside services will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Florence, SC. Reverend Regina Girten will officiate. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to the Thomas O. Hall, Jr. Honors Scholarship Fund, Virginia Commonwealth University, Office of University Advancement, P.O. Box 842039, 909 W. Franklin St., Richmond, VA, 23284.