Hortense Wood Hall

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind, but now I see.”

Mrs. Hortense Wood Hall, 97, of Rural Hall, died Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at her home, marking the end of an earthly life filled with love, happiness, smiles and laughter. She now enjoys her eternal life in Heaven, forever with Jesus, who she worshipped and adored. Named Christine Hortense, Mrs. Hall was born October 16, 1928 in Mount Airy, NC to Ernest Lee and Daisy Mae Epperson Wood. She graduated from Mount Airy High School. She was preceded in death by her parents and five dearly loved brothers, Brockton Wood, Rev. Clagette Wood, Hersey Wood, Tycho Wood and Mack Wood. Mrs. Hall married her best friend and the love of her life, James Norris Hall, on August 10, 1946. They were married for 64 years until his death March 15, 2010. Hortense loved sports. After retiring from a distinguished career at Wachovia Bank (now Wells Fargo), she became a cheerleader, performing with the Piedmont Cheering Hearts Senior Cheerleading Squad, and was a Senior Olympics Gold Medal recipient in cheerleading. She was President of the Rural Hall Senior Citizens Club for many years and was a member of the Voices Choir. She volunteered at Crisis Control and was a faithful member of United Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir. Always on the go, if she had spare time, she loved crafting, puzzling and playing bingo. She was a “people person”, had a servant’s heart, never met a stranger and loved everyone. In addition to her parents, brothers and husband, she was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Savannah Blair Thomas. Mrs. Hall is survived by her son, Michael Noel “Mike” Hall; her granddaughter, Heather Thomas (husband, Jason); two great-grandchildren, Carson Gray and Ava Grace Thomas; a sister-in-law, Barbara Wood; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 PM Saturday, March 7, 2026 at United Baptist Church, 5815 Murray Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27106. Rev. Will Watson will officiate. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. Graveside services, conducted by Rev. Phillip Wagoner, will be held 11:00 AM Monday at Skyline Memory Gardens in Mount Airy, NC.