Junior "JB/Jesse" Hall

Junior attended elementary schools in San Angelo at Carver Elementary and for a short time in Youngstown, Ohio. He completed junior high school at Blackshear Junior High and was graduated from San Angelo High School (Central).

After graduation, Junior joined the United States Air Force where he spent the next 20 years serving his country. In 1960, Junior married Frances Bradford and became the father to her young son, Carlos Bradford. They welcomed Anthony Hall in 1960. Soon the family was stationed at Junior’s military assignment in Panama.

Upon his military retirement in 1977, Junior and Frances relocated to his hometown of San Angelo where he began a new career with the City of San Angelo’s Housing Authority.

Letting his political interests be known, Junior became the Precinct-1 Chairman. His personal commitment to community service and the love of his community motivated him to run for public office. In 1992, he was elected to the position of Tom Green County Constable, an office he held until 2008 when he retired.

Utilizing his proficient leadership skill set, Junior fostered his community’s political awareness by developing citizens’ better understanding of the political process. As an active member of the Tom Green County Democratic Party and Past-President of the county Club, Junior served on the group’s Executive Board. Expanding his political expertise to the state level, Junior helped to charter the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats and subsequently formed the Coalition’s San Angelo chapter.

After an unsuccessful run for City Council, he remained a trailblazer in other civic and political positions. Junior actively participated in various organizations and civic groups including the Esperanza Clinic and the Police Association. In addition, he served as a Texas Democratic Senatorial District 28 Executive Committeeman. He was Past-President of The Lions Club and the San Angelo Juneteenth Committee. Junior was instrumental in developing a valuable community resource by championing the transfer of ownership of the old Dunbar Public Library to The Lions Club.

Always the vigilant watchman for maintaining the civil rights for all people, Junior was a Past-President of the San Angelo Unit 6219 of the NAACP where he became a Lifetime Member. Currently, he served Unit 6219 on the Executive Committee as the Political Action Chairman.

As a man of faith, Junior Hall lived by the scripture found in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 and fought every day of his life to make a difference in this world. As a devoted man of faith, Junior was a Deacon and a Sunday School Teacher at the Antioch First Missionary Baptist Church. He fought the good fight and finished his course. Through it all, he kept the faith.

Junior enjoyed being a father and later a grandfather and great grandfather. He especially enjoyed spending time with family including his late brother Don Hall and Don’s wife, Margaret along with his nieces, nephews and close friends. Other personal interests which brought him great joy included fishing and cooking.

Junior loved “working in the dirt” - planting and watching the results of his labor. Junior passed Saturday evening, May 2, 2020 while gardening in his yard.

A few hours earlier that same day, Junior had actively participated – via teleconference - in the monthly San Angelo NAACP Unit 6219 General Membership Meeting. Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Junior and his wife Frances volunteered every Thursday and Friday at the local NAACP office providing volunteer services for whatever tasks were needed and taking care of the plants in the office.

Junior enjoyed discussing politics and social justice. He consistently remained current about the latest news events and often offered inclusive strategies to provide equity to everyone.

During the historic October, 2019, NAACP State Conference held in San Angelo, Junior received the NAACP Torchbearer Award for the years of service provided to the local Unit 6219 chapter. The local and state NAACP lifts his spirit in memory as a firebrand of a lifetime of community service.

Many viewed Junior as a wise man having witnessed many political and social changes through his many years of service.

He will be missed by many on a personal level. He certainly leaves a deep void where it comes to an example of commitment to community service where he translated his beliefs of justice for all into actions to achieve that justice.

Junior was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse Hall, Sr. and Sara Lois Hall; sister Annie Owens; brother Don Hall, Sr., and son Anthony Hall. Left to cherish his memory include, his wife Frances; son, Carlos Bradford (Valerie); 4 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews, his devoted sisters-in-law Margaret Hall (TX), Gladys Wood (MD), Jonetta Bradford (CA); his beloved Antioch First Missionary Baptist Church family; a host of family and friends along with his beloved San Angelo community.

Visitation and wake service will be held Friday, May 8, 2020 at Johnson’s Funeral Home Chapel from 6 pm-8 pm. Final service will be held Saturday, May 9, 2020 at Johnson’s Funeral Home Chapel at 10 am. A Facebook live coverage of the Saturday service will begin at 10 am. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at: www.johnsons-funeralhome.com

A livestream of the memorial service will be available to watch at https://www.facebook.com/JohnsonsFuneralHomeSanAngelo/.