Obituary of Donald R. Hall

Donald Reginald Hall was born on February 12th, 1932. In Newark New Jersey to Nellie Bell and Arthur Hall who preceded him to glory. Donald is the 3rd sibling of six children, the late Cecelia, Norma, Arthur, and James. He is survived by one sibling Jean Hall-Morris. Donald was educated in the state of New Jersey and had taken the skills of learning to cook from his mother and sisters to later become an entrepreneur owning his own restaurant (The Driftwood Inn), hair salon (The House of Delilah), and catering business. He in turn passed the knowledge of doing hair down to his nieces and a nephew. No body could click those hot irons like him. In his younger years Donald was also a model, which is where he got his eclectic and couture taste of dressing he was never one to shy away from colors, He was often asked to dress in black tails and white bow to sing in concerts. One of the most famous songs he was known to sing was “Oh Danny Boy” an Irish song sung at most funerals or concerts in Ireland. After retiring his businesses Donald continued to serve his customers by doing home haircare visits, and either in home or onsite catering for some for select events. Donald loved entertaining people, especially his family. You could often find him opening his home (the famous basement) for parties, providing a boom box for music for the nieces, nephews and their friends, while he’d be upstairs cooking and entertaining the (grown) folks. Some of his most famous dishes were his cole-slaw with the fruit cocktail, lasagna with lots of healthy oil, pineapple upside down cake, and of course the preferred Jamaican drink Sorrell. He was also very into health foods, and believed by drinking Senna leaf tea for (detoxification.) Donald, as well as his siblings, was brought up in Clinton Memorial Methodist AME Zion church in Newark NJ. He and his siblings sang on the choir from youth to adulthood. He also served on other ministries including the kitchen ministry. Donald had such an impression on his younger family members that they still often mimic his all to well known, ”LISTENNNN, LISTEN HERE, DON’T YOU FOOL WITH NO ME, HEAR”! Donald leaves to cherish his memories, his sister Jean Morris of Chesilhurst, NJ, several God-children, a host of nieces and nephews, in the states of Colorado, Georgia, New Jersey, Virginia, and Washington DC, a host of great and great-great nieces and nephews in the above states, as well as Maryland and Pennsylvania. Donald will be sorely missed and forever remembered by his family and many friends. Sleep well and in peace your service here on earth is done. The family will cherish the memories in both heart and mind. Submitted by the Hall Family