Lucille Thomas Sykes Hall

Lucille Sykes Hall of Virginia Beach, Virginia, passed away on August 1, 2018 at the age of 101. She was cradled in the love of her family. Lucille was predeceased by her first husband, Marvin P. Sykes; step-daughter Francis Miller; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lee C. Thomas; siblings Clyde Archie Thomas and wife Mary, Myrtle Painter and husband Kenneth, Raymond Thomas and wife Betty.

Lucille is survived by her husband Emory O. Hall; daughters Patricia Martin and husband Donald of Manakin Sabot of Virginia; and Catherine Bullock and husband James of Wilmington, NC; stepson Robert Sykes and wife Theresa of San Marcos, Texas; grandchildren Kathryn Rice, Christopher Bullock (Tracy), Meredith Bullock Campbell (Jon), Benjamin Bullock (Marl); and great grandchildren Tucker Bullock, Gray Bullock, and Mason Bullock. Lucille is also survived by Cynthia Hall Schonborn (Jan) of Virginia Beach, Lisa Laws (Bruce) of Virginia Beach, David Hall (Trace) of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and Emory Hall, Jr. (Susan) of Virginia Beach; grandson Ryan Pipkin.

On October 25, 1916, Lucille was born to Kate and Lee Thomas on the family farm in Carrollton Manor, Maryland. She graduated from Frederick High School in 1933 and spent 4 years driving a Model A Ford 10 miles each day to Hood College from which she graduated in 1937. She was then accepted into John Hopkins University where she excelled in her studies and she subsequently graduated in 1941 with a Masters Degree in Dietetics and Nutrition. She began her working years at the Marboro Clinic, a private pavilion of John Hopkins University Hospital. Later she practiced at The Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. In 1946 she was hired by Marriott Hot Shoppes in Washington, DC. It was there that Lucille met Marvin P. Sykes. They were married in 1947. After a brief venture in Durham, NC, the Sykes family returned to Washington and Lucille began working at The Statler Hilton Hotel. She met and worked for such notables as, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Clark Gable, President Harry Truman, and a striking woman who later became Mrs. John F. Kennedy.

In the early 1960’s the family relocated to Virginia Beach where she rejoined the Marriott Corporation. She was so successful at this position that she became their first female manager. Food and the food industry have been an integral part of her life.

In 1974, Marvin passed away and Lucille filled her days with golf, church, volunteer work, bridge, and many wonderful friends. In 1991, she and Emory Hall discovered that they had much in common. The two ultimately married and they filled their lives with the things they loved such as travel, visiting friends, and caring for loved ones.

The family would like to express their great thanks and love to June Hall Goodrich (Steve) of Oak Hill, Florida for lovingly assisting Lucille and Lucille’s family through her final days.