Dorothy Marie Hall

Dorothy was born on February 19, 1925 in Hinds County, Mississippi. She was the second eldest of five children who would bless the union of her late parents the Reverend Alounzo L. Polk

Sr., and Sylvia Bell Coleman Polk. She was an excellent student who excelled through school quickly.

By the age of 16 she was attending Jackson State University. It was at Jackson State where she met the one college student who would become the love of her life. Dorothy and Ambrose Milton Hall were

united in Holy Matrimony on May 29, 1943. To this union they would be blessed with six children.

In June 1949, Dorothy and Ambrose, Sr. along with their three small children Sylvia, Ambrose Jr., and David, relocated to California where they settled in to the town of Monrovia. Sadly just two years before their departure from Mississippi, they suffered the loss of their third child Dwight who had succumbed to an illness during his infancy. It was in the 1950’s when their daughters Linda and Adrianne would be born, and Ambrose, Sr. would be called to preach the Gospel. Dorothy and Reverend Ambrose M. Hall, Sr. would take on the roles of Pastor and First Lady of Antioch Church of Christ Holiness in Monrovia.

Over the next three decades, Dorothy and Reverend Hall would immerse themselves in the fight for Civil Rights, Voter’s Rights, and the end to the Racial Inequalities that plagued their community. She worked side by side with her husband as he took on the role as President of the Monrovia Duarte Chapter of the N.A.A.C.P.. Dorothy embraced and spearheaded many roles within the community and even organized Voting Booth locations at her own home and within the homes of other community leaders during the

60’s to make sure every resident had voting access. She inherited her drive for voter rights from her father, who in the 1930’s and 40’s, spent many weekends traveling throughout Hinds County

Mississippi assisting other Black residents who wanted to register to vote while knowing that each trip could result in his being lynched. Because of her activism she didn’t think twice before accepting

employment within the Monrovia Unified School District as a Title Four Program Liaison in the 1970’s The Title Four Program was developed as a conduit to help mend the racial issues within the city

and surrounding communities. It wasn’t until the Reverend’s death in January 1986, that Dorothy

decided to retire from community activism. By then the next generation had already started getting involved and she felt it was perfectly fine to let them take it from there. But it wasn’t unusual

for her to find a front seat at a school board meeting or other community action event where she would voice her thoughts and opinions well into her 90’s. She enjoyed spending time with her family. Dorothy especially loved visits from her grandchildren. Whenever possible, she would be right in the mix of any graduation ceremony, birthday celebration, wedding or other milestone being celebrated by her

loved ones. For the grandchildren, having their Grandma Hall in attendance at one of their events made it extra special. One of the family's greatest feats was being able to pull-off a surprise 90th birthday celebration for her which brought family and friends together from across the US either in person or on video to give her their love and best birthday wishes. Dorothy found great joy in participating in church. She loved the Lord. Until her health prevented her from attending in person, she spent her last years as a member at the All Nations Seventh Day Adventist Church in Monrovia. Wearing one of her many hats,

dressed in one of her many suits and carrying her favorite bible she felt right as rain in praise and song while listening to a wonderful sermon and amazing Gospel music. She is preceded in death by her husband Reverend Ambrose Milton Hall Sr., her daughter Sylvia Van Doren and her sons Ambrose Jr. and Dwight. The magnitude of her love, compassion, convictions and faith continues to flourish in the lives of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. In addition to her legacy, Dorothy leaves to mourn her passing and celebrate her amazing life, her Children David Hall (Sonja) of Duarte,Ca., Linda Smith of Monrovia, Ca., Adrianne Marie Hall (LaQuetta) of Phoenix, Az., sister Pearl White of Chicago, Il., eighteen grandchildren, thirty-eight great-grandchildren, fifteen

great-great-grandchildren, and a host of beloved and cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.