Evelyn Marie Wood Hall

Evelyn Marie Wood Hall, age 95, of Highlands, North Carolina, passed peacefully from this life to her heavenly home on January 5, 2026. She was comforted in her final days and hours by the presence of her husband Bill, her children and grandchildren.

Evelyn was born in 1930, in Miami, Florida, the elder daughter of James Bernard Wood and Clara Chamness Wood. She and her younger sister Delores (Dee) were children of the Great Depression. Her family struggled, particularly after her father left town to seek work. He never returned. Her mother provided as best she could, but she struggled with alcohol abuse. Evelyn had to grow up fast, sacrificing, caring, and protecting her sister and her mother through the Depression and World War II. The measure of Evelyn’s success is that Evelyn’s recollections of this period of her life were somewhat dark, while Dee’s are largely positive. Her early life taught Evelyn to internalize her troubles, and to be tough, determined, and in control.

She lived and attended school on Miami Beach for a while, before the family moved to Allapattah where she attended Andrew Jackson High School. She excelled at Jackson and developed an interest in Journalism. She edited the school yearbook, partnering with her life-long friend Bonita Bachman (who later married Billy Bruce and retired to Highlands). She also became a skilled debater. Evelyn had a love for words that served her well throughout her life.

Evelyn formed many other life-long friendships during her high school years, the most important being Bill, an upperclassman. At 14 years, Bill was employed after school making deliveries in a work van to support his family while his father and older brother were fighting overseas. After work hours, he was permitted to ferry his friends and classmates to school and church events. Evelyn was among the Methodist church group. Bill was headed to his Senior Class Dance without a date when he encountered Evelyn, a sophomore, at the door. He decided to invite her to be his date. They danced to “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows”. It became their song. That night, they became a couple for life. They married in 1948, shortly after her graduation. They celebrated their 77th Anniversary in September of last year.

In 1952, when she became pregnant with their first child, John, they purchased a house in a new suburban subdivision in North Miami (aka, South Jacksonville). They lived there together with Dee and her husband Jim Rogers, who was a City of Miami firefighter. Ironically, Dee nearly burned down the house on the day John was being brought home from Jackson Hospital when a grease fire started in the oven. Jim was quick to toss the flaming pan out the back door, nearly hitting the next door neighbor innocently, tending to his yard. Jim encouraged Bill to join the fire department. Bill was at first reluctant, having no interest in a job where you sit around all day waiting for a bell to ring. With Evelyn’s encouragement, Bill did join the department, and they never regretted that choice.

Bill served in the Navy after World War II. Evelyn and young son John moved to the naval base in Key West during the time Bill was stationed there. They lived in a Quonset hut, which was like an oven during the day. They found shelter from the heat in the only air-conditioned space available, the base movie theater. Evelyn and John got a heavy dose of theatrical entertainment that year.

Aside from that one-year stint on the Navy base, Evelyn and Bill raised their four children in North Miami. Evelyn was determined that her children would have a secure and stable home life, unlike that of their parents. She was a stay-at-home mom, devoting herself to the physical, educational, and spiritual well-being of her children. She was always busy keeping the household, preparing meals, making clothes, and ushering kids to their school, community, and church activities. Every third day, when Bill was on duty, she had to serve as both mom and dad. Contrary to TV in the 50s and early 60s, none of this was accomplished in a dress, heels, and pearls. In fact, on those days when she didn’t have time to style her hair, she covered her head with a scarf, much to the embarrassment of Tim, who asked her to drop him off a block from school so his friends would not see his mom - the pirate.

Evelyn always wanted a girl. She went through three boys and eight years before she finally got her wish in Lisa. Piano lessons and ballet were a welcome change from air rifles and football in the street.

Bill first visited Highlands in the late 1940s and fell in love with the area. He and Evelyn purchased a parcel of land in Horse Cove in the mid-1950s and had a small vacation home dried in by 1960. The family enjoyed vacations in Horse Cove for the next 23 years. Those were working vacations for the first decade as dad (and family) finished work on the home. Some years, Evelyn and the kids spent the entire summer vacation in Highlands, while dad worked back in Miami. Ultimately, Bill and Evelyn retired to live in the mountains full time in 1983.

Throughout her adult life, Evelyn devoted countless hours in service to her church and community. In Miami, she served as Director of her church preschool program for decades, nurturing other children as she had done her own. After they moved to Highlands, she created libraries at The Bascom and at Community Bible Church, she administered the Horse Cove Road Association, she volunteered at the Eckerd Center, the Hudson Library, the Highlands Playhouse, and the Highlands United Methodist Church Food Pantry, among many other organizations. She lived to serve others.

She and Bill enjoyed traveling and retirement gave them the opportunity. They traveled to all 50 states, mostly by car. They enjoyed cruises in Alaska and in the Caribbean. They toured Europe together. But their favorite place in the world was their home in Horse Cove, where Bill built a woodworking shop and Evelyn planted gardens worthy of the Biltmore Estate.

Evelyn’s grandchildren called her Grammy. She was very present in their lives, especially when families would visit in the summer. She welcomed her grandkids into her home and spent time with them gardening, cross-stitching, preparing picnics (with the perfect sandwiches), going on after-dinner walks down Horse Cove Road, picking flowers, and joining her in exercise class (followed by the bakery). She made every occasion special, from birthdays to the 4th of July. She organized ice cream sundae parties when there no other occasion to celebrate. She put so much thought and care into creating experiences - even down to the silver sporks offered with the ice cream. And Grammy and Grampa (Bill) never let a Sunday pass without bringing their grandchildren to church. Her steadfast faith and life were a testimony of God’s love.

Around the time that COVID forced them into isolation in 2000, Evelyn began having difficulties with her speech. She was eventually diagnosed with progressive aphasia which gradually took her voice until texting became her primary mode of communication. Unfortunately, over time the aphasia affected her motor control and her sight, ultimately robbing her of her ability to communicate, except by using “flash cards” to answer Yes or No questions. What a cruel fate for one with such a gift for words.

Although advancing age and isolation presented challenges for Bill and Evelyn, with the dedicated assistance of Hanna Bekajdari, they were able to live in their own home until last August, when they moved together to an apartment at the Chestnut Hill assisted living center in Highlands. Evelyn was grateful to Tammy Nelson and her dedicated, skilled and caring team at Chestnut Hill for their outstanding support in her challenging last months.

Evelyn’s favorite bible verse was Philippians 4:13 – ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ This served her well in trying times, and she passed this message of resilience on to her children. When everything seemed to be falling apart at once for one or more members of her family, she reminded them of that verse and that ‘Life is an adventure.’

Evelyn had a firm and lasting belief in Jesus Christ as her Savior and the Lord of her life. As strong a communicator as she was, Evelyn did not impose her beliefs on others. She lived her faith and looked for teachable moments to talk about it. This is her ultimate teachable moment. She would want her friends and family to know, if they only believe the simple truth that Jesus died on a cross for their sins, they will spend eternity with him in paradise, where she is now.

Evelyn was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She purposed in her heart to treasure the family she and Bill established and she was blessed to be able to nurture so many generations with her wisdom and love. All who knew her were equally blessed.

Evelyn is survived by husband Milton Johnny (Bill) Hall; her children John Richard Hall (Susan), Timothy Mark Hall (Nancy), Daniel Bruce Hall (Angela), and Lisa Marie Hall (Allan); her former daughter-in-law Kathy Sullivan; her grandchildren Andrew Hall, Angela Bailey (Stacey), Jenny Hall, Tyler Hall (Gabby), Amy McCartney (Matt), Daniel J Hall (Hanna), Joseph Hall (Heidi), and Bonnie Sanders (Chris); and her sister, Delores (Dee) Rogers. She also leaves behind 10 great-grandchildren, all of whom were a source of joy and pride in her life.

We will celebrate Evelyn’s life at 2:00 PM on January 10th, at Highlands United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Randy Lucas officiating. The family will receive friends at a reception following the service. She and Bill will be buried at the Horse Cove Cemetery at a future date. Their epitaph: “Together Always”.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Evelyn’s name to Highlands United Methodist Church, whose staff and members have graciously made this service and reception possible. Donations can be made online at https://www.highlandsmethodist.org/giving/. Alternatively, checks can be mailed to PO Box 1959, Highlands, NC.

The family welcomes your online expressions of sympathy and reflection at www.bryantgrantfuneralhome.com.

Bryant-Grant Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to serve the Hall family.