By Staff
Senior Living
(This week The Atmore Advance spotlights Mildred Hall, 76, of Atmore. Hall enjoys playing cards at the Atmore SAIL Center and volunteering.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in Perdido, Ala. on Sept. 18, 1930.
Q: Who were your parents?
A: Bill and Venie Hadley. She was a Hadley also. I'm kin to all of Baldwin County.
Q: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
A: I have twin brothers, Arion and Marion Hadley. My sister, Marie, is dead; she died about four years ago. The twins live in Atmore; we call them "Little Boy" and "Big Boy." We don't see each other often but we keep in touch by phone. My sister-in-law keeps me informed about what's going on with them.
Q: Where did you attend high school and college?
A: I love going to school. I started in Perdido. Then I went to Davisville and went to school there. Then I came to Atmore in 1941. I went to a boarding school in New Orleans for two years. I came back to Escambia County High School for 11th grade but graduated from Clarke County High School in Grove Hill.
Then I went to Montevallo for a year. My mother got sick with cancer so I dropped out and went to Birmingham Business College. Then at 56 years old I went to Atlantic University in Pompano Beach, Fla. I got my certified nursing certificate. I am a certified nursing assistant in the state of Florida.
Q: Do you do a lot of traveling?
A: Not as much as I would like. I do go to bluegrass festivals and travel with the historical society on their trips. Sometimes my church group, the Explorers, go on trips. I lived and worked in Nevada as a nursing assistant and did a lot of traveling with that job.
Q: What jobs have you held?
A: When I was in the 11th grade I worked at the Strand Theater here in town. I've always wanted to work. When I was in business school I worked at the Alabama Theater in Birmingham. I worked for Southern Bell Telephone Company in Birmingham. I transferred to Nashville, Tenn., and then transferred to Dayton, Ohio. Then I came back to Atmore.
After I got married I worked at Sears and a bank in Pensacola, Fla. Then I had children. I worked at Moore's and the Lotto Store, my brother's lotto store. I worked for my brother, Arion. I worked at the Atmore Advance for 14 years when my boys were in school. I also wrote for two magazines. I worked at the Escambia Ledger and did sports news for the Pensacola News Journal. The Mobile Press Register and Montgomery Advertiser picked some of my stuff up.
I'm writing a book now and it's a trilogy about seniors and how their lives went until their next reunion.
Q: Did you ever marry?
A: I was married to Jerry Hall for 31 years. He is remarried and lives in Walnut Hill, Fla.
Q: Do you have any children or grandchildren?
A: I have two boys, Bruce and Mark Hall. Bruce lives in Oak Grove and Mark lives in Thomasville, Ga. I see Bruce often but not Mark. Mark is retired from the military. He's with FEMA now. He travels a lot. He comes here sometimes to hunt with his brother. I have 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Q: Where do you attend church?
A: First Assembly but I'm a member of Baptist Temple.
Q: What keeps you busy these days?
A: Volunteering. I volunteer with Atmore Community Hospital auxiliary, Charitable Pharmacy Program at the Health Department, Leadership Institute of University of South Alabama, Hospice – AseraCare out of Monroeville. I work with GoldenCare Baptist Health Organization. I do Celebrate Life at First Assembly. I volunteer at the SAIL Center whenever I can. I go anywhere I can be of help. I am also on the RSVP Escambia County Advisory Counsel.
Q: What's your favorite television show?
A: "CSI" and "Lifetime" movies. I don't have any favorite movies. I saw so many movies for free at the theater when I worked there. In New Orleans I saw so many movie stars when I was there.
Q: What do you do for fun?
A: I play cards with my friends at the SAIL Center. I especially enjoy the senior master's games. I ended up with six ribbons in district and state. I even got one in Auburn for billiards. I enjoy eating out with my Sunday school class and the SAIL Center birthday group. About 15 members are in that group. I enjoy going to my friend, Marcus Bartlett's, with a group to his camp house. Willie Ward, a friend of mine from Cantonment, Fla., and I go to bluegrass gospel singings in the area. Around here there are local gospel groups. They are all good musicians. I really enjoy it; it's good clean fun.
Once a month Mable Thames and I go shopping in Pensacola, Fla. We've been friends for about 50 years.
I encourage anything that keeps kids out of trouble and off the streets.
Q: What advice would you like to give people on staying healthy?
A: To keep busy, do a lot of volunteering, to trust God and to pray a lot. To live hard and pray harder.
(If you would like to recommend a senior to be spotlighted please contact Adrienne McKenzie at 368-2123 or e-mail her at lifestyles@atmoreadvance.com)