Chuck spent his childhood with his older sister, Janice, older brother, Percy, and 3 younger brothers George, Guy, and Gary. As a child, he loved baseball, model cars, and planes. He was also known for his practical jokes. At bedtime, he would often scare his younger brothers by making shadow figures on the wall and he kept his sister on her toes with his unsuspecting pranks.
As he got a little older, the Hall family moved from Omaha, Nebraska, to Los Angeles, California, where Chuck became an excellent student and a star athlete. He grew up following Jackie Robinson as he played baseball and had his own dreams of making it to the major leagues.
At school and in his neighborhood, he was known as a clean cut, sharp dresser, with of course- a quick wit. His confidence, cleverness, and focus on baseball helped him stay out of trouble and protected his younger brothers from neighborhood bullies.
Chuck was a serious athlete. He lifted weights everyday and played for the Thomas Jefferson High School varsity baseball team called, The Democrats, as a shortstop and outfielder with his long-time best friend, James Massengale.
In 1963, not long after Chuck graduated from high school, he was scouted by the legendary baseball coach and manager, Art Mazmanian, for the Pacific Coast Baseball League and had his first professional contract to play in the minor leagues signed when he was only 18.
In 1964, he played in the Florida State League for the Daytona Beach Islanders and then later was drafted to the Burlington Bees in the Midwest League.
In the early 1960’s, he was one of the few black baseball players who were given an opportunity to play in the newly integrated minor leagues. Although many strides were made in the sport, racism and discrimination were still pervasive.
During Chuck’s time in the minor leagues, he recounted many great memories as well as disheartening stories of verbal insults from fans, fellow teammates, and opposing players while traveling on buses and playing in the games.
In the spring of 1965, Chuck was married to his first wife, Sharon Haliburton, and they were blessed with 3 wonderful children, Celeste Michelle Hall, Anthony Charles Hall, and Angella Cherrise Hall.
While raising his kids, Chuck worked several years for Trans World Airlines in a variety of positions which further fueled his love of planes.
Sadly, in the early 1970’s, Chuck became a victim of racial profiling and police brutality in Los Angeles, California. This incident forever changed the trajectory of his life and left him with long-term challenges from a traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health issues.
Although this incident completely disrupted Chuck’s life and the lives of those who loved him, he did what he could to adjust to the circumstances. He was supported by many people including his second wife and caregiver, Celeste A. Hall of 52 years. They married in 1982, and made a life for themselves in Burlington, Iowa where they raised 2 beautiful daughters, Damisi Zaire Hall and Dailah DeShanna Hall.
Throughout all of the challenges, Chuck turned to God as his source for strength. While burning sandalwood incense, he could often be seen pacing the house while holding his bible and quoting scriptures. He also continued to pursue his hobbies and would listen to his favorite albums, visit the airport to watch the planes land, and lift weights daily to stay fit.
In 2010, Chuck and Celeste retired and moved to Texas to be closer to family where he enjoyed celebrating birthdays and gathering for holidays.
The last few years of his life, Chuck was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and Dementia. As the illnesses progressed, he spent the last year of his life in Matlock Place Health and Rehabilitation Center in Mansfield, TX where he met a new friend and roommate, Jesse High, and was cared for by a helpful staff.
After the onset of a sudden illness, Chuck passed away peacefully at 10:38pm on December 26, 2023 at Methodist Hospital in Mansfield, TX with many family and friends by his side. He was preceded in death by his father, Percy Hall, mother, Melba Hall, brothers, Gary and Guy Hall, and son, Anthony Hall.
The life of Mr. Charles Hall II will forever be cherished in the hearts and lives of his wife: Celeste A. Hall of Mansfield, Texas; siblings: Janice Porter of Atlanta, Georgia, Percy Hall of Long Beach, California, and George Hall of Oakland, California; children: Celeste Hall of Las Vegas, Nevada, Angella Hall of Los Angeles, California, Damisi Little and Fred Brewster of Mansfield, Texas, and Dailah (Donnell) Richardson of Mansfield, Texas; grand-children: Maya (Deniss) Dimas, Nicole Wright, Danielle Brown, Gabrielle Brown, Caleb Brown, Sydni Scurlark, Michael Hall, Quincy Hall, Breana Hall, Thomas Hall, Taylor Hall, Zariah Shields, Hasani Little, Jamil Little, Makai Little, Sophia Richardson, and Miles Richardson; 8 great-grand-children; and countless other family and friends.
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