Shirley Hall Moore

Shirley Hall Moore, of Plainville, GA, died on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at the age of 81 after a long illness. She was born in Atlanta GA May 21, 1933. Her father, Dr. W.D. Hall Sr. was finishing medical studies at Emory University when she arrived. Later, Dr. Hall and his wife Ruby Koon Hall moved to Calhoun, GA where Dr. Hall and Dr. Zeb Johnston opened the first hospital in Gordon County known as the Johnston-Hall Clinic. A former Homecoming Queen and cheerleader at Calhoun High School, she also was involved in glee club and band and studied piano from an early age, winning lst place for Piano in the State GMEA competition at Shorter College. Mrs. Moore attended Stephen’s College in Missouri where she received scholarships for leadersip, music, and education. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Piano from Georgia State University. Her graduate studies included the University of Boston, European Division, and the Hochschule fuer Muzik in Mannheim, Germany. In 1965, she and her family moved to Europe where she worked for the Dept. of the Army and the University of Maryland while her children attended Hochschule in Bad Nauheim, Germany. After returning to the US 9 years later, she met and married Jack Moore, a prominent Atlanta businessman and founder of Moore-Colson, Atlanta. She taught at Mercer Music Prep School in Atlanta, and at Emory University for 15 years, becoming well recognized as a professional accompanist and adjudicator. She served two terms as Pres. of the Marietta Music Club, and the Atlanta Music Teachers Association and was a Trustee and Scholarship Chair of the Pro-Mozart Society as well as a member of Mu Phi Epsilon Music Fraternity. Mrs. Moore was the recipient of the National Federation of Music Clubs award for composition, and the GA State Univ. Ritter Award for Outstanding Performer. In 1991 she won the Mu Phi Epsilon International Composer award for best composition, for flute and piano: Ori-Occi. Her compositions were performed in Germany, Australia, and many major cities in the US. In 1984, she toured Mexico with the international organization Women in Music, performing and lecturing at the Bellas Artes Auditorium in Mexico City and the state of Zacatecas. She also received the Woman of the Year for Music Award from the National League of American Pen Women in 1985. When she was commissioned by the GA Federation of Music Clubs to write a work in honor of their 100th anniversary, she wrote a choral work with Latin translations from the Vulgate titled “Cantate Domino” for the occasion. She has written many songs, a short choral work: “Faith”, a children’s song, pieces for flute, and solos for piano. One of her performing highlights was accompanying the Atlanta Boys Choir in NY City’s Town Hall accompanied by a Chamber Orchestra. Shirley pursued her love for teaching, performing, and learning throughout her life. In 1985 she published her first book, a French-English Music Dictionary which is found in college libraries and in five countries. She later published her second book, “I Speak Southern, Do Ya’ll” in 2011; a year before a major stroke took away the use of the left side of her body. This did not stop her joy of living. She continued her love of music by adapting her piano skills to her right hand only. She continued to play the piano daily in this manner until just before her death. After retiring to LeiHall Farm in Plainville, with the help of her daughter, Rhonda Hobgood Shanon, she expanded her interests and awareness in gardening, fishing, and nature preservation. She attributed her sensitivity to nature and the arts to her mother who had degrees in French Literature and Art. Mrs. Moore and her husband Jack shared the outdoor life with great passion. They bagged frozen fish by the dozens from their private lake to share with their church members at Plainville United Methodist Church where Shirley became the regular Sunday pianist. She is survived by her daughters; Rhonda Shannon of LeiHall Farm, Plainville, GA, Teresa Lowe and her husband Steve of Mobile, AL, one son, Wesley Hobgood and his wife Sheila of Columbia, S.C. and one step-daughter Rebecca Jensen and her husband Dr. Eric Jensen of Huntsville, AL, Grandchildren; Brady Macomber, Jory Shannon, Courtney Soldwish, Kelly Kelone, Dallas Hobgood, Jr and his wife Amber, Cody Hobgood, and Caroline Hobgood, two great grand children and her brother Dr. W. Dallas Hall, Jr.and his wife Peggy of Atlanta, GA. A sister, her mother and father, and two husbands preceded her in death. She had a lot of stamina and drive. Cancer slowed her down a bit, as well as bones that became fragile, a subsequent stroke and heart attack but her determination to accept her fate with gratefulness for all the good things that life had handed her was predominant. Her philosophy in life was to do the best possible with your God-given gifts, never lie or discriminate and be kind to others. She believed that to be intolerant, lazy and stagnate were the greatest of sins. Funeral Services will be conducted on Sunday, April 26th at 2:00 PM from the Chapel of Thomas Funeral Home with the Reverend Bill Lowery officiating. Graveside Services will follow on Monday, April 27th at 2:00 PM at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs, GA where she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Jack A. Moore. The family will receive friends prior to the funeral on Sunday beginning at 12:30 PM. Donations in lieu of Flowers may be made in loving memory of Shirley Moore to Floyd Heyman Hospice, Rome GA. Contact 706.509.3200 or to Plainville United Methodist Church; The Jack Moore Memorial Fund, Plainville, GA. 30733. You may leave the family online condolences at www.thomasfuneralhomecalhoun.com For additional information or to send flowers contact: Thomas Funeral Home, 535 Red Bud Road, Calhoun, GA.30701 706.629.2832 thomasfuneralhomecalhoun.com Thomas Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Shirley Hall Moore of Plainville.