Dr. Ray Margaret (McConnell) Hall transitioned to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Lansing, Michigan, at the age of 98 years old. She was born on Thursday, March 17, 1927, in South Bend, Indiana. Her parents were Raymond and Maggie Lee (Rowsey) McConnell. By the time she was 7 years old, both of her parents had passed. She was raised by her maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Crockett and great aunt, Geneva Jackson.
Ray Margaret graduated from Central High School in South Bend, Indiana. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Kentucky University in Frankfort, Kentucky, a master’s degree, and PhD from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.
Ray Margaret married William E. Witherspoon, to this union two sons were born, William Bruce and Howard Tilman. She later married Earle Jackson. At the age of 72 years, Ray Margaret was married to Superintendent John D. Hall (a childhood sweetheart), Pastor of Grace Temple COGIC in Fort Wayne, Indiana. They spent 13½ years of “SUBLIME BLISS.” He died in May 2013, and she returned to Lansing.
Ray Margaret had rich and rewarding work experience as an elementary teacher in Cassopolis, Michigan, South Bend, Indiana, and Lansing, Michigan. She was also employed by the St. Joseph County Welfare as a Social Worker. Ray was the Executive Director of a three county “War on Poverty” program in Benton Harbor, Michigan. She worked at the Urban League in South Bend, Indiana, and as the interim director of the Black Child and Family Institute in Lansing. She retired from Lansing Community College in 1986, after twelve years of employment.
She was a member of Lansing Church of God in Christ where she served in several positions prior to moving to Indiana. For over 30 years, she was a member of the National Church of God in Christ Bible Institute serving across several Jurisdictions in Michigan.
She leaves to cherish her memory, sons, Bruce (Mary) Witherspoon residing in Charlotte, Michigan and Howard (Kay) Witherspoon of Bloomington, Minnesota; grandsons, Adam and Jason Witherspoon of Bloomington, Minnesota; granddaughters, Elizabeth (Dave) Main of East Lansing, Michigan; and Barbara (Charles) Bailey of Painesville, Ohio; stepdaughter, Etiwanda (Bishop Harry) Beard and their children, Ray Margaret’s “bonus” grandchildren, Dr. Devona (Benjamin) Anderson, Kokomo, Indiana, Rana (Julian) Dotson, Accokeek, Maryland, DeAndra Beard-Ingram, Galveston, Indiana, and Jeremy L. Beard, Tampa, Florida; bonus great granddaughters, Jaina Dotson, Accokeek, Maryland and Zora Anderson, Kokomo, Indiana; and bonus great grandsons, Jedaiah Beard and Benjamin Anderson, Kokomo, Indiana; Caleb and Isaiah Dotson, Accokeek, Maryland; three sisters-in-law, Alice Washington, Kokomo, Indiana, Charlotte Corbett, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Louise James, Atlanta, Georgia; two cousins, Donna (Lee) Werner, Oak Park, Illinois and Harold McConnell, Odessa, Texas. Ray Margaret is survived by MANY, MANY beautiful friends and spiritual sons and daughters. They ALL know how much I love them.
Ray Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Superintendent John D. Hall; grandsons, Joe Ingram and Matthew Bartrom; sisters-in-laws, Betty Oliver, Dorothy Joseph, and Mariam Wilson.
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