I knew Hal from the REIN and I was so impressed with his kind and generous spirit. I was amazed that someone so busy and successful always had time for a question from someone like me.

I know he’ll be missed by multitudes of people whose lives he touched in a profoundly positive way.

My heartfelt condolences on losing Hal. What an inspiration he has been to so many! What a full life he lived! I am grateful for the opportunity to have reconnected with him and know of his love for his family and life in general.

Judy, you may remember me as Brenda Rapp. My mother was Mrs. Marie Rapp and we lived on Shotwell Street when you and Toni were babies. Hal and I played together almost constantly, as there were no boys his age on the block and I preferred his company to another little girl whom my mother baby sat. We made up lots of games and played everyday until we were called home for dinner. (In those days children did not have to be so sheltered and protected from the world as they do now and we had lots of adventures.) Hal started school a year before me and I was forced to play with a girl. When I started school at St. Anne,, Hal was in the second grade and my older sister, Dot was in seventh grade. She reluctantly had to supervise us on the bus ride home. She always had a story to tell my mother about something we did.

I visited with your family during your summers in Shreveport and Hal came back to Memphis to visit with us. Then your family moved to Nashville and we visited more frequently. Your mother and mine were best friends. My mother used to say that Delores Wilson was one of the most intelligent people she knew and one of the funniest. “Nanny Wilson” was also hilarious so I’m sure Hal inherited his wit from both of them. The last time I saw Hal we were both in high school and I came to Nashville on a student council event at Hillsboro High. I don’t remember what I did with the student council but I do remember my nice visit with your family.

When your mother passed away, Hal was kind enough to call my mother and let her know. As they had both gotten older, they stayed in touch mostly by telephone. My mother passed away here in Texas with me in 2007. My sister Dot moved to Franklin in 2003 and she contacted Hal. She lives with her daughter, Marie Newberry and her husband, James, on Ayshire Circle. Please extend my sincere condolences to all the family, especially Dickie and their children.

Good memories last forever!

Brenda Fielder