Dear Editor,

The family of Dr. Harold Hall would like to thank all the friends and patients of our dad for a most treasured gift. Through this most difficult time you have shared your stories of our father&8217;s compassion and care for you and your loved ones as you, in years past, faced your most difficult trials.

We have been so blessed to know that when our dad was absent from us, it was because he was present with you.

In the last few days so many of you have come and shared with us your stories of the times he spent with you, comforting as much as doctoring.

These are stories of all night vigils in your homes, caring for a sick child until his fever broke, bringing new lives into the world, or easing the pain of dying loved ones until they crossed from this world to the next.

You have revealed to us a side of our father we saw only at a distance. How he lived his life was something he didn&8217;t talk about, and we, as his children who knew only that he was away most of the time, had only an inkling of the man he was.

And now you were there for him when the time came for his crossing over. There are too many of you to thank by name. But, to those who visited with him in the hospital or at home, sat with him, prayed with him and even sang for him, we just want to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

There is a memorial in his honor that we would like to share with everyone, it is located at the Museum and Archives located at the old courthouse in Columbiana.

The family has also set up a scholarship fund in the name of Dr. Harold J. Hall, located at the Regions bank in Columbiana.

We would like to ask all of you who knew him and loved him for one more gift.

Please write your stories with as much detail of time, place, persons and situation and mail them to: Yance Hall, 4516 Jacob Circle, Birmingham, AL 35215; or email them to mailto:Hall5442@bellsouth.net. If you have pictures please send us a copy. We hope to use these for a future work on dad&8217;s ministry to the town he loved so much.

Thank you again for the comfort that you gave so generously.

Lynne, Jinks, Kit, Laura, Yance and Beth

Dear Editor,

We would like to express our sincere thanks to the Shelby Baptist ICU staff as well as Dr. Thomas Paul and his staff. Your devotion to your job and your compassion shown to our family during our father&8217;s recent death was overwhelming.

We would also like to thank the many family members and friends who comforted us at the hospital and those who prayed for us during this difficult time.

To the Calera Fire Department, you hold a very special place in our hearts, and to the members of Shelby Lodge 140, may God continue to bless you.

Our family will always remember each and everyone one of you, your love and support was a great comfort to each of us.

Larry Ray and the Truitt Ray Family / Columbian