Barbara Oliver Hall

Barbara passed away Monday, December 12, 2022. A memorial service will be held on January 13th, 2023 at St. Paul AME Church starting at 11:00am.An Ivy Behind the Wall service will be conducted at 10 am  by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

On June 19, 1934, the late W. Lawrence Oliver and Hazel Patten Oliver joyfully welcomed the birth of twin daughters Barbara and Beverlee. Barbara received her primary education in the Des Moines Public School System and graduated from North High School in 1952. Among her many extra-curricular activates was playing on the girl’s North High School Team that won multiple City high School Championships. Barbara continued her education at University of Iowa at Iowa City, where she majored in education with a minor in music. Before graduating, she had the honor of being initiated into the Camps Undergrad chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She graduated from U of I with a Bachelor’s degree in education.

Her career, in music education, began with the acceptance of an offer to become the music instructor for Boone Valley Community School District, in Renwick, Iowa. She was the first African American to be hired by the school district, for the kindergarten through twelfth grade music assignments. One of her proudest achievements was taking some of her outstanding high school students to the state music competition. It was the first time this had been done in the history of the school district. Three quartets competed. One was a winner. In 1958, she moved from Renwick to Detroit , Michigan where her grandmother taught and Barbara took a position as a music teacher. While teaching, Barbara received her Master’s Degree in music from Wayne State University. After marrying Hermon Hall, on July 13, 1963, Barbara moved to Milwaukee WI. and was a stay at home spouse.

 Eventually Barbara returned to teaching for the University for Wisconsin-Extension and did post graduate work at the University of Milwaukee Campus. Barbara also enjoyed traveling with Hermon; destinations included England, Ethiopia and Nairobi. While in Nairobi, Barbara did post graduate work at Nairobi University. Eventually the couple moved to Barbara’s hometown, Des Moines, Iowa where she enrolled in post graduate studies at Drake University. But within a few years, Barbara’s life was devastatingly impacted when Hermon died tragically, on February 8, 1979. She continued her participation in many organizational activities, while her employment path led to becoming the chief of the Bureau of Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action, for the State of Iowa. Although no longer teaching music, one of Barbara’s primary pleasures was singing in St. Paul ‘s AME Church Choir, she also sang at Plymouth Church. Barbara was an accomplished soloist, singing at weddings, funeral and for loved ones. Barbara, a certified parliamentarian, served as president of the Iowa State Association of Parliamentarians, the Des Moines Unit of Parliamentarians, the Mace Unit of Parliamentarians and the Des Moines Parliamentarians. She also served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Parliamentarians. Barbara presented parliamentary workshops and wrote a parliamentary procedures booklet, “Will the Meeting Please Come to Order”. Barbara was a “Link”, where she enjoyed serving as parliamentarian for The Link, Incorporated, as well as other local, state and national organizations.

After multiple health issues developed, Barbara had to give up driving and participating in many of the activities she enjoyed. But she never lost her mesmerizing smile, her sense of humor, her sense of style, and the laughter that came with it. Barbara Oliver Hall went home to be with the Lord on December 12, 2022. She was welcomed by her husband, Hermon; parents, W. Lawrence Oliver and Hazel Patten Oliver; her twin sister, Beverlee Oliver; grandparents; nephew, Lawrence (Larry) Oliver Hauser. Left on earth to cherish her memoires, grandniece, Lauren Christine Hauser; grandnephew, Walter Lawrence Oliver Hauser. Cousin, Ralston Pitts and a host of extended family and friends