these emails were posted on several message boards and email lists:
Brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
We have suffered a tremendous loss. On January 20, 2006 Phi Beta Sigma pioneer Bro. Francis Llewellyn Aloysius Hall was called home as he passed away at the Carroll Manor Nursing Home in Washington, D.C. Bro. Francis Hall was an icon in Phi Beta Sigma as he pledged Alpha chapter, Spring 1935 BY HIMSELF and he was also one of the co-authors of the ORIGINAL Sigma Light [along with bro. J. Edgar Smith]. Both were appointed by President George W. Parker at the 1945 conclave to write the Sigma Light. Bro. Francis Hall leaves behind two daughters: Frances Hall Anderson and Theresa Hall Raines. One sister: Rosetta Hall Hamm. Five grandchildren and an empire legacy of brothers who were made as a result of the Sigma Light which he co-wrote. His services are scheduled for Thursday, January 26, 2006 at the St Ann’s Catholic Church which is only ONE block away from the Tenleytown Metro Station in Washington, D.C. This will be for the viewing which will be held from 10:00am to 12:00 noon. The address of the St. Ann’s Catholic Church is 4404 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.; Washington, D.C. 20016-2142. The telephone number is (202) 966-6288. The omega ceremony is scheduled for 11:00a.m. The funeral mass itself will be at 12:00 noon at McGuire Funeral Service Inc.; 7400 Georgia Avenue, N.W.; Washington, D.C. 20012. Telephone number is (202) 882-6600. Please see to it that this gets passed on to as many brothers of Phi Beta Sigma as possible.
Please take a moment to view his obituary and go to his memorial guestbook to sign and view.
Delivered from the desk of Kevin Kauffman, Spring 1989, Xi Pi chapter, now serving Lambda Lambda Sigma chapter in Trenton, New Jersey who in turned received it from the desk of the current Associate Regional Director, William Kellibrew IV.
another email reads:
Brothers and Sorors,
Yesterday (Sunday, January 22), I was informed that BROTHER FRANCIS LLEWELLYN HALL passed away on Friday, January 20, 2006, at the Carroll Manor Nursing Facility, Providence Hospital, Washington, DC. His services are scheduled for Thursday, January 26, 2006, at the St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 4404 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016-2142. St. Ann’s Church is located on Tenley Circle and just one block from the Tenleytown Metro Station.
Visitation and viewing will be from 10:00 a.m. to 12 Noon. Funeral Mass will begin at 12 Noon. The family is scheduling the Omega Service for 11:00 a.m.
Bro. Hall was initiated into Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Alpha Chapter, Howard University, June 6, 1935. He served for many years as chaplain for Alpha Sigma Chapter. However his greatest contribution to our noble band, is as one of the co-authors of the original “Sigma Light”, the booklet seen as the document which would enlighten the new men of Sigma.
Please forward this message to every Sigma and Zeta possible.
Funeral Home:
McGuire Funeral Service Inc.
7400 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20012
(202) 882-6600
Home Address:
Ms. Frances (Hall) Anderson
1719 Varmum St., NW
Washington, DC 20011
Bro. Arnold Austin
President, Alpha Sigma Chapter
another email reads:
It is with much regret that I inform members of the Brotherhood of the passing of Brother Frances Hall. Brother Hall was a pioneer in the world of Sigma. Initiated in 1935, Brother Hall was friends with founder A. Langston Taylor, and was one of the two original authors of the Sigma Light. A long-time member of Alpha Sigma chapter, Brother Hall lived 90 years, and served Sigma as an active member for 70 years. I am proud to say that I and brother Julius Riddick visited Brother Hall on January 4, 2005, and we both enjoyed his delightful conversation and (always) positive disposition. He was thrilled to see us and we shared many pleasant thoughts as well as provided him with gifts of blue and white. Brother Hall will be missed.
We are awaiting funeral arrangements at this time from the family, but I anticipate they will be scheduled for Thursday of this week. I will keep you posted. Please keep the family of Brother Hall in your prayers.
Bro. J. David Reeves
Great Giants – Slipping Away – Without Honor; Without Notice
For a number of years before his passing, Brother Francis L. Hall lived at the Carroll Manor Nursing Home in Washington, DC – about fifteen minutes from the front door of the Sigma Headquarters. Until his last days, Bro. Hall was fantastically lucid and full of wonderful stories. Once, when the Washington chapters celebrated his birthday at the nursing home, Bro. Hall was on stage – the center of attention – and enjoying every moment of his birthday celebration.
Bro. Hall was full of stories which he told with a dramatic flair – like the story of the time Founder Taylor came to town and asked Bro. Hall if he could come to dinner at his home. Younger members of Sigma need to understand that Founder Taylor’s request took place pre-integration and during the height of World War II when black folks had very few options. Black people could not stay in the downtown hotels and restaurants didn’t allow for our business.
With Founder Taylor’s request, Brother Hall was both honored and scared to death. Founder Taylor wanted to come to dinner and all Bro. Hall and his wife had available was a partially used book of ration stamps – about enough for a purchase of a couple of cans of Spam.
Bro. Hall described his great worry that feeding Spam to a Founder would forever cause him and his wife embarrassment. Fortunately, either Founder Taylor enjoyed the Spam or was very understanding and appreciative that the Halls had given him the very best that they had.
I only visited Bro. Hall a couple of times a year. Kevin Christian visited almost every Sunday that he was in town. Every now and then we were able to take some undergrads to see Brother Hall. Bro. Hall particularly loved to have undergrads visit him.
(Bro. Smith, Bro. Hall & Bro. Christian) (Kevin, Bro. Hall & E-Psi –UM, College Park)
Over the years, I often asked our presidents to take the General Board to see Brother Hall when they met in Washington. Unfortunately, they were always too busy with international business.
A few weeks before his passing, Kevin shared with me that Bro. Hall had told him that it was clear that he was no longer needed. Kevin was completely devastated because he realized that Bro. Hall recognized that he, and perhaps his life’s work, was no longer appreciated. Bro. Hall never held high office, never was recommended to the DSC. He simply did what the Founders asked, and provided the methodology by which each new Sigma is trained.
Brother Hall passed away on January 20, 2006. To date, no Crescent Magazine has had time to give him a memorial. Maybe he doesn’t deserve a eulogy – since all he did was to co-author the Sigma Light.
Perhaps one day someone will place some flowers on his grave and lament his passing. That will be nice – late; but nice.
Bro. Gerald:
Thank you for speaking about our great brother. Despite being paralyzed by a stroke, he always took time out to talk to me and help me with Sigma History. And he loved connecting with the young brothers! I fondly remember one of the last times that we visited him. You had helped me organize a Christmas Card Campaign to fill his room with cards from Sigmas, well I must say, the campaigned worked. I sat with him, and opened over 100 cards from Sigma brothers nationwide, reading each one to him and putting them up around his room. He laughed and kidded me, because he knew that I was more thrilled than he was. He really appreciated that. Brothers, I urge you, dont take our senior brothers for granted, learn all that you can from them, each and every day. I had a 1947 picture of Alpha Sigma Chapter, it had about 15 brothers in it, I could only name 3. I took the picture to Bro. Hall, he named everyone in the picture, told me a little about each one, and what they did for Sigma. Attorney Lindsey W. Caine, Col. Robert L. Pollard, Rev. JLS Holloman, Dr. Charles W. Wade, Bro. Joseph Battle, Bro. Francis L. Hall, Dr. Joseph Dotson, Bro. Arthur Bracey (who the picture belonged too)all in tuxedo’s, carnations, standing with pride and dignity. I shake my head, 1947, almost 60 years ago. I have the picture, and I am so grateful, because of Bro. Hall, I know who these brothers are….A true example of THE SIGMA LIGHT.