Hall, Gayle Chafin

Gayle Darlene Chafin Hall joined the angels peacefully on Wednesday evening January 24, 2024, surrounded by her loved ones. Born on July 23, 1945 she lived most of her life in Southwestern Virginia near the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

Gayle, called Boogie by her father, was ten years younger than her brother Bobby. She was an avid athlete at Auburn High School playing basketball and volleyball and also a talented majorette. Gayle married at a young age and had one daughter Missy. She later shared her life with partner Bobby Handy until his death in May of 2017. Gayle loved to play games and despite her sweet southern charm was quite competitive. She loved to bake and was known for her sweets – pound cakes, peanut butter balls, strawberry shortcake and brownies. Her southern cooking, which always included some fat back, brought comfort to all. She loved flowers and would always have something blooming in her home. Despite struggling with many health issues over the years, she never complained and always held strong to her deep faith to carry her through difficult times.

Gayle joined Miss and her family in the Annapolis, MD area in 2019 and was able to live close by during the pandemic in her own little cottage which she came to love and call home. She missed her Virginia family and friends but loved being near her two grandsons, Griffin and Cameron, who were her pride and joy. She was able to attend many baseball games over the years to see both grandsons play and was their sideline cheerleader offering praise despite the outcome of the game. She was an avid NY Yankees and Alabama fan – ROLL TIDE! Even enjoying a couple of trips down to Tuscaloosa.

Gayle was a life-long caregiver, a special calling that she learned firsthand from her own mother Ileda. Gayle devoted her entire life to caring for others, often putting her own needs aside and making sacrifices for those she loved. She was caregiver to many over the years, including her father, brother, mother, and aunt. Family always came first for her. All that knew her felt the love and kindness those oozed out with her sweet southern accent. She was affectionately known by all as “Granny Gayle” and had an inner beauty that shown through like a warm glow for all to find comfort in.

Gayle was preceded in death by her father Rudell Chafin, brother Bob Chafin, mother Ileda Chafin, and lifelong partner Bobby Handy. She is survived by her daughter Melissa “Miss” Good, son in law, Russell Howard Good, and grandsons Griffin Hall Good and Cameron Russell Good, and many cousins, loved ones and friends who will miss her dearly.

Services will be held at Sidney United Methodist Church 2705 Camp Carysbrook Rd, Riner, Virginia 24149 on February 3, at 10:00 am. A reception will be held immediately following at the church. Interment will be at Highland Memorial Garden 5555 Lee Hwy, Dublin, Virginia 24084 at 1:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Highway Pasadena, MD 21122, to honor all the special nurses and staff that extended so much love and care to Gayle and Miss in those final days. https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/giving/donate-now/