Gloucester came out to honor one of its most senior residents—a man who has given a lifetime’s worth of service to his community and nation—when Del. Keith Hodges (R-Urbanna) was on hand last week to present 102-year-old Ellis Hall with a General Assembly resolution.

Friday afternoon’s presentation was made at Riverside Sanders Retirement Community in Gloucester where Hall is a resident. House Joint Resolution No. 305, passed in the 2020 session of the General Assembly, honors Hall as a businessman, a veteran and a member of the Gloucester community.

“Our nation’s centenarians have lived so much life that they’ve learned plenty of valuable lessons that us young folk ought to pay attention to,” said Hodges. “Never discount what they have to say just because they don’t have thousands of Twitter followers. The lessons that Mr. Hall can teach us are more valuable that what you can find on social media.”

Hall served in the United States Army beginning in 1943 and was honorably discharged shortly after the conclusion of World War II.

After his military service, he became a part of the General Electric appliance retailing business and partnered with William F. Broaddus of Broaddus Bros. The name was changed to Broaddus and Hall, Inc., in 1956 and Hall managed the store until he sold it in 2006. He also developed Edgehill Shopping Center located on Gloucester Main Street. A charter member of the Gloucester Rotary Club, Hall served with that organization for 57 years.

Hall is active in his church, Newington Baptist, and even taught Sunday school until the age of 100. He has also been active with the prison ministry at Gloucester County Jail. The resolution stated that Hall “has touched countless lives in the Gloucester community as a businessman, spiritual mentor and friend.”

“I thank my Lord for his blessings on me,” said Hall, addressing the crowd composed of his family and friends. “He blessed me all my life.”