Jennifer Ann Hall, 56, beloved wife of Joel Hall, passed away surrounded by her family on December 5, 2022. Her passing, much too young, followed a courageous 15-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born April 18, 1966, in Miami, FL, the youngest daughter of Edward O. Hawkins (deceased) and Pamela Emerson Bailey. She graduated with an AA degree in 1992 from Santa Fe Community College.
Throughout her life, Jennifer was athletic and physically active. She received a scholarship to play women’s softball at Santa Fe Community College. She subsequently enjoyed playing on recreational softball teams in Gainesville, FL where she met her husband Joel playing coed softball in 1986. She also enjoyed weightlifting and bodybuilding; and in later years became very active playing tennis. Jennifer and Joel were married in 1990 and would have celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary this coming February.
As a teenager, she developed a love of horses and competed in countless equestrian events. Later in life, through a family tragedy, a horse came into the picture which re-ignited Jennifer’s passion for horses. In 2005, Jennifer and Joel made a lifestyle change by moving from Jacksonville, FL to Hilliard, FL to start a small horse farm and raise their family in a small rural community, where they also found a church home at First Baptist Church Hilliard.
Jennifer enjoyed teaching and helping other children in the community. She started a horse-focused 4-H group which she led for several years; and conducted many “horse camps” for kids at our farm where she poured herself into the campers to provide a fun-filled and hands on learning experience. When one of her child students needed a foster home, Jennifer took action to take Jenna in through foster care, which eventually led to her adoption in 2021.
During this time, she also dedicated herself to increasing her natural horsemanship knowledge through self-study and attending numerous clinics, workshops, and intensive courses. Ultimately, she applied her knowledge and experience to start her own business called Jennifer’s Mobile Horsemanship Training, LLC. Over the past 5 years, she had focused on promoting natural horsemanship and helping adult horse owners become better leaders in partnership with their horses. She was truly gifted in this endeavor, and it was a joy to watch her turn her passion into a successful, all too short, career.
She is preceded in death by her father Edward O. Hawkins, sister, Pamela Jean Hawkins, brother, Edward O. Hawkins, and cousin, Alex Perry. She is survived by her husband, Joel Hall; children: Hailey Hall (Davis), Alyson Hall, Sydney Hall, and Jenna Hall (adopted); mother, Pamela Emerson Bailey; sister, Briana Meredith (Barry); brother, Brian Hawkins (Khrissy); aunt, Rhoda Perry; cousin, Dr. Sam Perry; as well as stepbrothers, in-laws, and beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews.
A Celebration of Life for Jennifer will be held at the family farm (391066 Prospect Landing Rd Hilliard, FL 32046) on Tuesday December 27th at 4:00 pm. In the event of rain, the Celebration will be held at First Baptist Church Hilliard. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Community Hospice and Palliative Care online at Support.CommunityHospice.com (designation: Alice and T. O’Neal Douglas Center for Caring). Photography by Alyson Hall.
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