DOBSON — Jeff Hall, 51, died peacefully yesterday morning, according to family members. Now community members are reflecting on the life of a man who “courageously” fought cancer for the past year and a half while continuing to serve on the Surry County Board of Education.

Hall’s daughter, Kristy Cox, posted on her father’s Web site yesterday that he had died peacefully in his sleep around 6 a.m. with his wife Debra present. Kristy wrote, “He was ready and God was ready for him.”

It was Father’s Day of 2008 when Hall found out that he had kidney cancer. Treatment seemed successful at first, but then doctors found a couple of spots on Hall’s liver and lung on Dec. 30, 2008.

But despite the sickness, Hall continued to serve on the school board up until his death.

Dr. Ashley Hinson, superintendent of Surry County Schools, said, “Mr. Hall has been a wonderful board member and was beloved by all who came in contact with him.”

Hall also continued working for the county as a buildings inspector until a few months ago.

Paul Johnson, chairman of the Surry County Board of Commissioners, said, “He worked as long as he very could.”

Before joining the board of education and working for the county, Hall worked for the sheriff’s office. Sheriff Graham Atkinson began working for the office in 1985, close to when Hall did. Atkinson said Hall started as a patrol deputy and quickly worked his way up through the detective division.

“He was part bloodhound,” described Atkinson.

The sheriff described Hall as a man who would work extra hours without pay to get the job done. “He worked hard at whatever he did,” said Atkinson.

Atkinson believes Hall learned a lot from his father, Bill, who was the Surry County sheriff for several years.

“The older (Jeff) got the more and more he reminded me of his daddy,” Atkinson remarked.

Commissioner Johnson said, “We lost his dad two years ago, and we still haven’t recovered from that. This left another void.”

After many years at the sheriff’s office, Hall went on to work for the county’s building inspection department. County Manager Dennis Thompson said Hall was “an excellent county employee” because of his “devotion to doing a good job every day.”

“Jeff’s going to be missed in so many ways, it’s hard to describe. As a county employee, we’ll never be able to fill his shoes,” Johnson remarked.

Hall’s experience with law enforcement and buildings and construction proved to be a vital asset to Surry County Schools, according to board of education members.

“I don’t think you could find someone to bring all the aspects to the board that he did,” said Earlie Coe, chairman of the board of education. “He’ll leave a hole, a gaping hole on our board.”

Hinson said, “He was very concerned about our school system and used common sense with everything that he did ... I don’t know of anyone I respect more.”

Board member Michele Hunter said, “He was strong, a very hard worker. He was a very progressive thinker and always willing to think outside the box. He believed in education.”

“He was a great advocate for our employees, from cafeteria workers to the superintendent,” added Coe.

“He had the children in Surry County at heart, and any decision he made had their best interest in mind,” said board member Sue Stone.

Board member Brian Gates knew Hall his entire life and relied on his common sense approach to issues. He said, “I will miss him considerably. Our entire board will miss him.”

While on the board, Hall championed efforts such as getting cameras for school buses and advocated the 1-to-1 computer initiative.

But in addition to his work for the sheriff’s office, county inspections department and board of education, Hall also devoted time to many other groups in the community. He was a member of the Zephyr Ruritan Club and a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Mountain Park Baptist Church.

Johnson said, “Jeff’s work ethic was that he knew he had Surry County to serve, and he helped them any way he could.”

Friends of Hall described him as a “bright, caring” person who “loved people.” He was a “man of integrity and faith” and a “voice of reason.”

Hinson said, “Just about any superlative you can think of to describe a human being, that was Mr. Hall. And that is not an overstatement.”

Gates said, “Honestly, I couldn’t think of a negative thing about Jeff.”

Hall leaves behind wife Debra of 33 years, children Kristy and Scott, and grandchildren. His funeral arrangements have not been finalized yet. Moody-Davis of Dobson is handling the arrangements.

Members of the Surry County Board of Education said they will begin talking in January about a replacement for Hall on the board.

Though friends mourn the loss of Hall, they also celebrate the life that he lived.

“He’s in a lot better place than we are,” said Johnson.

Part of daughter Kristy’s post about her dad yesterday on www.caringbridge.org/visit/jeffhall read: “What a blessing to know he will have the best Christmas ever this year — at the feet of the Savior who was born on Christmas. What a celebration.”

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.