A Legacy of Love
OBITUARY
God closed the book on the life of Maria (MARIE) Valmon-Toussaint Hall, (Sunrise) born January 10, 1918 in Panama City, Panama. She was the third child of the late Lionel and Josefina Valmon de Toussaint. Marie crossed the bound of shadows to rest (Sunset) January 8, 2008 at 11:20am in Northwest Hospital, Randallstown, Maryland.
Marie’s late mother passed before her first birthday and was cared for by a guardian until 1926, when she immigrated to the USA. She united and resided with her late sister Ivy, in Harlem, New York. Her early education was at Holy Providence Boarding School founded by St. Catherine Drexel in Ben Salem, Pennsylvania. Marie was employed as a Seamstress, working in the New York City Garment District. She furthered her education at Jane Addams Vocational High School Night School, Bronx, New York, studying Dressmaking. Later she completed the American Red Cross First Aid & Nurse Aide program.
Her early life was spent in Harlem and adulthood in The Bronx, New York. Becoming a Pen Pal to USA servicemen during the war, she met her soul mate. On April 25, 1946, Marie was united in Holy Matrimony to the late Bryant Hall, Sr., and from this beautiful union, they raised seven children A son, Leon Joseph, preceded her in death. She was a devoted mother, always concerned about her children and her grand/great grand children, who she admired most of all.
Her family and friends were very important to her. No one ever received a late birthday card it was too early. She did note, that Frances Bruheir, Margaret King, Margaret Gibson, Raymond “Killer” Benson, Mattie Merritt, Dorothy Parker and Rodney B. Benson, as her long time friends.
Marie as a Homemaker, wife, and mother always shared her family, home and love with many. A Catholic, she regularly attended St. Augustine and St. Anselm’s RC Church, The Bronx, New York. Marie adored children and completed child caregivers training and became a N.Y.C. Catholic Charities Foster Parent for more than 35 years. She reared, looked after, provided a good home environment, fostering values, as she loved all the children. In the community she was active as a St. Anselm’s PTA, Girl Scott Den Mother and a Volunteer at the Ponce de Leon Senior Center. Her hobbies were many, cooking, baking, sewing, crocheting, knitting, ceramics, word search puzzles, her fingernails and of course socializing. She relocated to Baltimore, Maryland to be near her daughter and sons to assist her through her complex illness.
The loving imprint of Marie Valmon Toussaint Hall will forever exist in the hearts and minds of those who loved and knew her. Three daughters, Lettie Hall Smile (Poughkeepsie, NY), Ivy Hall McGhee (Bronx, NY) and Rosemarie Hall (Windsor Mill, MD); Three sons, Bryant Hall, Jr. (Baltimore, MD), Michael Hall (Washington, DC) and Samuel Hall (Bronx, NY); Five grandsons, Lemont McGhee, Sr. (Aprel), Chauncey McGhee, Sr. (Janelle), Christopher Tousaint Perez-Hall, Samuel Hall, Jr., and Michael Hall, Jr.; Three granddaughters, Danielle Tillman, Shaqusisa Bradley and Mariah Benimon; A great-granddaughter, Cheyenne McGhee; Four great-grandsons, Lemont McGhee, Jr., Amari McGhee, Immanual McGhee and Chauncey McGhee, Jr.; A son-in-law (Fitzgerald Smile); nieces, Olivia Buery (Richard), Joan Taylor (Leon, II); nephews, Frederick Valmon and Raymond Hall; godchildren, Roseanne Butler, Brenda Merritt, Barbara Merritt, Gordon King, Henry Iszard and Anthony Balfour; a host of grand/great grand nieces, nephews, cousins, extended families and close friends who will cherish her memories.
