Highway named for Dr. Esco Hall, Jr.
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Around a hundred community members and officials were present at the Baxley Funeral Home for the Highway Dedication Ceremony for the late Dr. Esco Hall, Jr., on November 25. Dr. Hall was born in Alamo, but considered Baxley his forever home. Dr. Hall Jr. was one of the first black graduates of the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, returning to Appling County as a patriarch to his community.
Santina Fryer
“Dr. Hall Jr. was a servant leader who believed leadership meant rolling up your sleeves, stepping forward with courage, and doing the work that others might shy away from,” said Councilwoman Santina Fryer. “He understood that real progress, especially in rural Georgia, is built on everyday acts of service, compassion, and commitment. Dr. Hall broke barriers that were once thought unbreakable. He walked through doors that were not always open to him, and when he entered those spaces, he held them open for others. His life stands as a testament to what is possible when purpose meets perseverance.”
State Representative Bill Workheiser was present to speak about the process of renaming the section of highway. “Every time you pass that sign, I hope it’s a reminder that all of us can make a difference. I want to thank the family for stepping up and doing this, and allowing me to be part of the process, because it was such a great honor to do so.”
Dr. Hall was a former Branch President of the Appling County NAACP and a posthumous recipient of the GMA Lifetime Service Award, in honor of his 36 years of service to the city as Council Member and 12 years as Mayor Pro Tem. Mayor Tim Varnadore shared several anecdotes about his time spent serving the city with Dr. Hall. “If you do the right thing, you’ll always be on the right side of God.”
Members of Dr. Hall’s family also addressed the crowd.
To dismiss the service, the group held hands for a word of prayer.
