Elva Lois Hall was born November 16th., in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to the late George and Willie Mae Williams. An only daughter, Marqula Simpkins, preceded her in death.
After the Santa Fe Railroad transferred her father from Oklahoma City to Kansas City, Mo., and finally to Newton, Ks., the family was finally able to settle and make Newton, Ks., their home in 1939. Her parents united with Second Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. M. C. Hooe. Having accepted Christ at the age of 12, under the leadership of the late Rev. Otis D. Parker she was totally involved in the Sunday School; Youth Choir; Usher Board and as a delegate to various Sunday School Conventions. Having a deep love for music and gospel singing she was constantly "thumping" on her mother's kitchen table, which prompted her mother to find house cleaning jobs to pay for her piano lessons and buy a used piano. Elva learned the art of piano playing, but she wanted more - she wanted the ability to hear a gospel song and then play it by "ear" which she mastered this technique and was soon able to play for their church choir during the summer months when the church pianist was away.

Before graduating from Newton High School Elva was a member of the Jr. and Senior High School Marching Band and Orchestra, playing both the clarinet, tenor and alto saxophone, also a member of the Mixed Chorus. Even though she was a quiet, non-talkative person, she loved Oratorical speaking and won 1st place with a speech she wrote entitled "I Speak for Democracy." Because she was not a Senior and was black, the award was given to a white boy who was a Senior.
Elva knew and experienced racial prejudice, but never could understand why it had to be that way because she always felt and would say to her mother, "Didn't God make us all?" She often remarked about an incident that she encountered during her youth and it remained in her mind even after she grew to womanhood. She and her father went to a certain drug store for a prescription, and at the counter was a white lady sitting there and she had her dog sitting on the counter stool next to her. Elva asked her father how come the dog was able to sit at the counter and they couldn't sit there? Her father's remark was "Don't worry about it because someday it won't be this way." She was taught by her parents to rise above prejudice and to accept people not by the color of their skin, but by who they were as a person and how they conducted themselves.
Elva attended Bethel College and worked in the laundry room starting early in the mornings before her first class and between her various classes throughout the day to help with her tuition. But after a year and a half her parents asked if she would consent to quit college and find a job to help with the expenses at home. She obeyed their wishes willingly and found work at Bethel Deaconess Hospital sending daily meals to each floor on a dummy elevator, which she had to operate by hand using a heavy rough rope. This being a "split shift" and having no car she was forced to walk several times a day back and forth in order to keep her job.
In 1955 with her parents and sister, they moved to Wichita, Ks and united with Tabernacle Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. U. W. Barron. In later years she and Jimmie C. Thompson were united in marriage at Second Baptist Church in Newton, Ks., and one daughter was born into this union. Due to health reasons she was forced to move from Denver, Colorado back to Wichita where she accepted the position as pianist for one of the choirs at Tabernacle.
Elva united with Greater St. Mary's Baptist Church in 1958 under the leadership of the late Rev. J. C. Douglas and accepted the position as pianist for the Celestial Church Choir. When Greater St. Mary's moved to their new and present location, she proudly marched from Wabash St., to the present location with her Church and Choir members. Through the years she served as pianist for various churches: Strangers Rest Baptist Church; New Hope Baptist Church; and Tabernacle Baptist Church's Male Chorus under the leadership of Rev. Wallace Hartsfield.
During her years of working, she worked for the State of Kansas Welfare Dept., in the Child Welfare Div., later accepting the position as a Legal Secretary for the late Attorney Chester I. Lewis and Luther Harris' Real Estate Office. As Marqula's paralysis began to slightly improve she was able to seek higher paying positions which she found at the old KSB&T Bank; USF&G Insurance Co; Farm Credit Banks; FDIC; UNB and retired from work in 2001 from Lucent Technologies.
In February, 1973 she and Lonzo S. Hall were married. A few years later Lonzo legally adopted Marqula. Searching for a medium size church home where they both would be comfortable and receive God's Word, they realized that Greater St. Mary's was what they were looking for and they united in 1980 under the leadership of the late Rev. A. Norris.
When God called Marqula home in 1996, a huge piece of "life" went out of Elva and she has constantly carried the hurt; emptiness and daily thoughts of Marq within her heart. She would be laughing, chatting and teasing with friends on the outside but constantly hurting; crying and praying on the inside for some peace of losing her only daughter. She would sometimes make the comment that she had not lost her drive and love for piano playing, because through her music and prayer it was the only way she could obtain a little peace within, but something was still missing and she knew exactly when it happened, when God called Marq home that Thursday morning of Sept. 5th• There were times she would say to friends, that she knew she was no longer the same Elva, but she was going to wait with patience like Job and someday she would be restored with that inner peace and no longer have to fight the demons of hurt and emptiness of losing Marqula.

From time to time she would tell friends to thank God for sparing them to see each new awakening day, and never forget to try and help someone by the side of the road as they continue on their heavenly journey. It will make their journey so much easier and happier. One thing she woufd remind. parents and friends to love and enjoy their children each passing day because tomorrow was never promised to anyone.
Elva leaves to mourn her passing, granddaughter, Bethany A. Simpkins of Gardena, Calif., sister, Joann Williams of L. A. California; niece, Valada E. Grant of Wichita and nephew, Elgin Grant of L. A. California, relatives, friends and co-workers. Proceed in death husband, Lonzo S. Hall