“The Beginning “ of Alfred and Ollie Hall
 During a family gathering of the Hall Family in the backyard of Jannie Eason (granddaughter of  Alfred and Ollie Rainwater Hall), in the latter part on the 80’s it was discovered that there were  possible relatives (cousins), Ruth Rainwater Reed and her family that lived in a nearby  neighborhood in Houston (Northwood Manor). After discussing and gathering information with Willie  Mae Hall Williams (Jannie’s mom), and Jannie’s cousins, Donald, Omeis, and Dorothy, it was  confirmed the family was indeed relatives. It was decided to contact their cousins in the order  that the families would come together for a family reunion. Cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers,  sisters, nieces and nephews were notified and were excited to find family. Relatives came from far  and near in 1990 resulting in our first bi-yearly Hall/Rainwater Family Reunion. Wow!!! It’s been  20 years. How time flies!

Hall Family History
 Alfred Hall Sr. was born December 25, 1886 in Clarence, Louisiana, to Robert and Sarah Hall. He  had 4 siblings, George, Pinkcal, Everleana and Martha. It had been written in the stars and his  destiny that someday Ollie Omena Rainwater would be his wife. Ollie was born in 1890 to Ruban and  Laura Rainwater and had 6 (six) siblings. They were Etson, Van, John Henry, Anna, Lillie, and  Emmanuel (State/Steak).

Alfred and Ollie were married and were blessed with 13 children. Their names were Sonnie Boy, Mary  Lee, Geneva, Luddie, Estella, Alfred Jr., Rosie Mae, Willie Mae & Willie (twins), Juanita, Jannie,  Aphas, and Onealer. Four of their children, Sonnie, Jannie, Aphas, and Onealer, died at very early  ages. Census records have Onealer passing away at 1 yr.

Alfred worked on the family farm as a young boy and as a cotton compressor entering into  adulthood. To care for his family, Alfred worked for the railroad, having to be away from home for  long periods of time.  As her family was growing, Ollie worked outside the home as a maid at The  Red Oil Mill Quarter to help with financial well-being of her family. Working for the railroad  caused Alfred and his family to move to various cities in Louisiana including Godine, Selena, and  Alexandria. Leaving Louisiana for a short while, the family moved to Houston, Texas and then back  to a town in Louisiana known as Montgomery, where the couple retired. There Alfred built his own  home and several of his children’s homes. Ollie passed away July 28, 1965 and Alfred was called  home January 1, 1978. Alfred and Ollie also have no children remaining, however their legacy lives  on through grandchildren, great grandchildren, great, great and great great great children. Rainwater Family History
 Ruth Rainwater Reed is one of three living nieces of Ollie Rainwater Hall who was married to  Alfred Hall, Sr. Emanuel (Ruth’s dad) and Ollie Rainwater Hall (Alfred’s wife) was siblings. To  the union of Ruth’s parents, Emanuel (“State”—some of us knew him as “Uncle Steak”) and Lydia  Hollingsworth Rainwater (also known as Littie or Lit), Orea, Hattie Mae, Aldridge, and Bessie Mae,  were borne. Emanuel was born April 1, 1899 and Lydia’s birth date was December 21, 1901. Emanuel  and his family made their home in Winn, Louisiana according to census records, but Ruth says they  moved quite a bit during their childhood; those places being Winnfield, Alexandria, and Monroe— also in Louisiana. Emanuel (Uncle Steak) made his living initially as a share cropper and later  acquired his own business by buying a truck for cutting, hauling, and selling pulp wood. Aunt lit,  as told by her granddaughter Dorothy Rainwater Lawson (Orea’s daughter), had a beautiful garden in  which she raised tomatoes that Dorothy like to pick before they ripened. Dorothy says this only  continued for a while until she was told that a snake had been seen in the garden. She says, “That  was my last trip to the garden for those tomatoes.” Although Lydia (Aunt Lit) kept a beautiful  garden, she was ill and was in the hospital a lot. Ruth says her dad Emanuel (Uncle Steak) took  care of his children while Lydia was in the hospital because he did not like or trust for anyone  to keep his children other than himself. Lydia passed away May 1967; Emanuel – August 1977. Ruth  and her sisters, Orea and Bessie remain.

From the information that had been gathered from our Hall and Rainwater backgrounds, we are shown  that we have inherited a desire to be the people we are today. Some have been owners of  construction companies, having been handed down the gift of carpentry ; some have acquired their  own businesses, businessmen (women) and entrepreneurs, from maids to maid services; day care  operators, interior decorators, videographers, photographers, film makers, singers, dancers,  actors, artists, chefs, secretaries, law enforcement officers, chemical engineers , accounts and  educators. We look forward to nurses, doctors, lawyers from our future generation; it doesn’t  stop! We love and caring family and yes, as the song says, “How Great is Our God!” the God of the  Hall & Rainwater families! As we remain faithful and obedient to Him, he will continue to bless  our family!