Gene Autry Hall

Newport News, VA – Gene A. Hall, 80 died surrounded by family and his loving wife August 20, 2021. He was born February 5, 1941 in Brunswick County, VA, the son of Jim Billy and Nancy Finch Hall.

He grew up working on a farm, which gave him an astounding work ethic, one that was rooted in his strong belief in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. His favorite times on the farm were when he and his siblings would explore the woods and creeks and his time as a member of the 4-H Club. He was very knowledgeable and could name almost any local plant or tree from memory. Following graduation from Park View High School, Class of 1958, Gene served in the U.S. Army until 1962. Years later, he moved to Newport News and met Jeannie Slate. He married Jeannie, the love of his life, on Christmas Day, 1969. They celebrated 51 years of marriage their last Christmas together. Gene and Jeannie were inseparable and each other’s soulmate.

Gene was a very skilled master electrician. He retired from the IBEW Local 1340. He enjoyed horse racing and playing the numbers in the lottery. He also enjoyed singing and playing his acoustic guitar. He was very giving to anyone that had a need. He worked very hard. Many days, he left before dawn and came back hours after sunset, always to provide for his family, yet he still found a way to be there for them in every single way imaginable. He was that husband, the one every woman wish she had married, and was that dad, the one everyone wish they had.

His greatest enjoyment came in 2010 as his first grandbaby, Georgia Gene arrived, naming him Fafa, and again in September 2014, when his second grandbaby Lucille Grace arrived. Fafa became his household name. He spent his retirement creating blanket forts, pretending to eat leaf soup, and piling up with his grandkids and Nama laughing a day’s worth of laughs. He was the Fafa, the one every grandchild wish they had.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by 6 brothers and 4 sisters, Fred, “Billy June” (James W.), Jack, Augusta Lee, Garland, Frank, Sarah Moneymaker, Elizabeth Connor, Mattie Lee Moore, and Nancy Greene Hamm. Surviving in addition to his wife, Jeannie (Slate) Hall, are his son, Greg Hall of Phoenix, Arizona, his daughter, Kelli Rountree and her husband Russell, grandbabies, Georgia Gene and Lucille Grace, of Rescue, VA, sister, Marjorie Pruitt (Jim), lifelong family friends, Dayton and Peggy Blake, loving godson Patrick Blake (Susan), his so very cherished “old friend”, Bill Ellis, also known to each other as “Shoes”, and many nieces and nephews that adore their “Uncle Gene.”

A service of remembrance will be held 12 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022 by Pastor William M. McCarty at Healing Water Worship Center, 12172 Smiths Neck Road, Carrollton, VA 23314. Online condolences may be registered at www.littlesfuneralhome.com.