George William Hails

Mr. Hails graduated from John Carroll High School where he joined the National Guard. His unit was called to serve in Korea. He married his sweetheart, Charlotte Smith, before being deployed. His first child, Donna, was born while he was in Korea. Upon his return in 1952 he joined AT&T as a craftsman in Birmingham. He moved up the ranks to Vice President moving his family to Montgomery, Washington, DC, Atlanta and finally to Chicago where he retired after 37 years. His marriage to Charlotte Smith gave him four children: Donna Grainger (Mike), Marybeth Hails (Mark Santillo), G. William Hails, Jr., and Samuel T. Hails. He was widowed in 1970, but later married Joan Fellner. He came to love Joan’s children as his own: John, Richard, Mary and Karen Fellner and Julie Banks. He is survived by his children and stepchildren and his brothers, Thomas J. Hails, Jr. (Judy Petit), Robert L. Hails (Barbara) and sister-in-law Janet Hails, 10 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Hails was fondly referred to by his daughters as “Honey” and by his grandchildren as “GrandHoney and “Great GrandHoney”

A public visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 from 10:00am-11:00am at Johns Ridout's Elmwood Chapel located at 800 Dennison Ave. SW Birmingham, AL 35211 with a graveside service to follow at Elmwood Cemetery at 11:00am located at 600 Martin Luther King Dr. Birmingham, AL 35211 with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations be made to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation at PO Box 515 Northampton, MA 010-0515 or to a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.johnsridoutselmwoodchapel.com for the Hails family.