Born in 1929, Jean Hall grew up as the eighth of ten children on a 400-acre farm in McNairy County, Tennessee. Her family’s farm produced a variety of crops, including fruits and vegetables, but their biggest crop by far was cotton. They also sold about 500 chicken fryers a year. Up until she was 13, their farm had no running electricity or water.
Jean graduated from the University of Tennessee School of Nursing in Memphis. Later in life, Jean attended East Tennessee State University and obtained a masters in Sociology. After she obtained her second degree, she worked part-time with adult psychiatric patients at Memorial Hospital in Johnson City. She later worked at a Catholic Hospital in Columbus, Ohio where she fondly recalls the broadcasted prayers and the peace that surrounded that time in the hospital. She eventually returned to school in Knoxville and earned her doctorate in medical ethics. During her time in Knoxville, Jean worked at a Baptist Hospital. She moved back to Johnston City to work at the Watauga Mental Health Center as director of nursing operations in the adult psychiatric unit.
Jean met her first husband, a dentist, of 26 years during her time in med school. Although their marriage did not last, they had six children together. During her doctorate, Jean found love again, adding three stepchildren to her family. Her husband passed away in 2012.
Outside of her love for the medical profession, Jean often spends her free hours reading on a variety of subjects. She also loves to crack jokes with fellow residents at Everlan of Johnson City. One time in the elevator someone asked her how she was doing. She replied, “Me? Well, with all the things wrong with me I thought I might wake up dead, but didn’t, so decided I may as well go to breakfast!”
