Oldest Living Graduate of Saint Paul’s College Celebrates 102nd Birthday

Feb. 10, 2012 - PRLog -- At the tender age of 14, L.L. Hall found himself entering the Saint Paul’s Normal and Industrial School located in Lawrenceville, VA in 1924.  Wearing a pair of knickers and long socks, Hall couldn’t have imagined the thousands of memories he would make at that school sitting on the hill, but at the age of 102, Hall is the oldest living alum of Saint Paul’s College (SPC) and the memories made at the school are just as vivid as they were 88 years ago.

Hall was born on February 17, 1910 in Ahoskie, North Carolina, which is approximately 80 miles from Lawrenceville, to Crawleigh F. Hall and Willie Louise Weaver Hall.  He had a younger brother, Leon Hall, who also attended Saint Paul’s Normal and Industrial School due to Hall’s encouragement.  

Upon entering Saint Paul’s Normal and Industrial School, Hall planned to study brick masonry; however, after signing up and reporting to the first day of class he learned he would have to excavate the basement for what is now known as the Chicago Building, so he immediately changed his major to teacher education.  

As a student Hall rose to the rank of Student Major in the Student Cadet Corp which was the highest position possible.  Hall’s Corp duties included issuing passes to the students that allowed them to visit the Town of Lawrenceville, assisting the head of the Student Cadet Corp, Major Whitehead, in inspecting each dormitory room, and students’ personal appearance on a daily basis, and marching the Corp of Cadets as they assembled for meals, chapel service, and meetings, among others.  

During his time at Saint Paul’s, Hall had the opportunity to serve as a student driver for Saint Paul’s College founder, Archdeacon James Solomon Russell and his son James Alvin Russell, Ph.D.  Archdeacon Russell and his son pastored at an Episcopal church in Warfield, Virginia, and on two Sundays of the month, Hall would drive them there immediately after chapel service on campus.  

While at SPC, Hall had the pleasure of rooming for a year with William Clarence Eckstine, also known as Billy Eckstine, the American singer of ballads and bandleader of the swing era, who through The Billy Eckstine Orchestra changed the shape of jazz and gave rise to the careers of musicians like Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis and Charlie Parker.  Hall has told stories of how Billy would take a pan and spoon and bang them while singing up and down the halls.

After graduating from Saint Paul’s, Hall began a 45-year-long career in educating the youth of Virginia.  His first job was as a teacher in the Mecklenburg, VA public school system.  After two years of service with the Mecklenburg school system he went on to serve as a Disciplinarian at the Hanover School for Boys.  Hall then taught in both the Farmville and Prince Edward school systems before serving in the U.S. Army during World War II.  Upon his return from war, Hall served as the principal of both Mary E. Branch #1 Primary School and Mary E. Branch #2 Middle School in Prince Edward County, until they were both closed because of Massive Resistance in response to the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954.  Hall and his employees were left jobless and many had to relocate across the country to find work.  Hall was able to find a job in neighboring Cumberland County where he taught science, mathematics and Negro history until his retirement in 1976.

Hall married the lovely Clara Juanita Gordon of Prince Edward County on October 10, 1942; from this union three children were born, L.L. Hall Jr., Veronica Hall McGhee, and Crawleigh C. Hall.

Learning the importance and value of a quality education while at Saint Paul’s Normal and Industrial School, Hall dedicated his life to educating the youth of America. Saint Paul’s College remains near and dear to his heart and the College is forever grateful for the path he led for the students who followed.