Verna Marie Kyle Hall was born in Gibsland, Louisiana. Verna’s love for serving others dates back to her high school days where she regularly volunteered. She attended North Texas State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She was also certified to teach, but never did. Verna’s professional career as a legal secretary and oil and gas secretary continued until the birth of her son, Kyle. After that, her community volunteer mission began.
Verna and her husband, George moved to Tyler, Texas after George’s stint in the army. Verna’s first community project in Tyler was to help with a benefit garage sale and the rest is Tyler history. Verna began volunteering with United Way in the early 1970’s. During her years as United Way’s Leadership Giving Chair, Verna was directly responsible for over $4-million in donations to help people in Smith County.
Verna and George were long time volunteers and Leadership Donors to United Way. In 1993, Verna received the Alexis de’ Tocqueville Award, United Way’s most prestigious recognition, in honor of her dedication and service; and in 2008, she was awarded the United Way President’s Spirit of Excellence Award. Verna’s other honors include the Tyler Junior College Apache Club Volunteer of the Year Award (1992); the President’s Citation Award from the University of North Texas (1992); Tyler Masonic Lodge #1233 Community Builder Award; East Texas Crisis Center honoree (2004); and recognized by the Women in Tyler as one of the “Women Who Care” (2014). Verna’s acts of giving stem from her belief that she received the richness of life by giving to others.
United Way of Smith County’s leadership giving program, the Admiral’s Club, was started in 1990 by Tylerite’s Norman Shtofman and Bill Martin. To memorialize Verna’s continued commitment to the work of United Way, the new leadership giving program debuted in 2014 as the Verna K Hall Leadership Circle and Verna was named Chair Emeritus.
Sadly, Verna passed away in the spring of 2024. But her spirit of generosity, kindness and servitude live on through the Leadership Circle named in her honor.
Our Leadership Giving Levels
Leadership Givers are generous community members who give $1,000 or more annually to the United Way. They significantly deepen the impact for the community, and provide nearly 30 percent of our annual funds raised.
How to join
- Pledge or give through your workplace campaign
- Pledge or give online
- Mail in your pledge or gift to: United Way of Smith County, PO BOX 10029, Tyler, TX, 75711
- Contact John Gaston with any questions at 903-581-6376 or jgaston@uwtyler.org
BENEFITS OF LEADERSHIP GIVING
As a Leadership Giver, you are the heart and soul of United Way. You want to help people. You want to make our community the best place to live and work. Leadership givers are invited to attend our annual leadership dinner and recognized through our annual report as a member of our Leadership Giving Societies.