Benjamin Hale

If there was anyone who knew how to live life to the fullest it was Benjamin Hale! He laughed, danced, sang and kept us all entertained until the very end.

Benjamin Hale was born on October 6, 1955, to Jack and Lillian Hale in Sylacauga, AL and although Ben was one of 10 siblings in the large Hale family, even from a very young age, he had a personality that was larger than life and always managed to stand out from the crowd!

As a child, Ben was full of energy and loved playing sports with his siblings, including basketball, football, and swimming. His passion for sports only grew during his teenage years, where he excelled in basketball and football at B.B. Comer High School. While he was talented in multiple sports, football was his true passion, and he thrived as a running back. By the time he graduated in 1973, he had earned the prestigious title of All-State Player. Ben’s talent on the field was so remarkable that the legendary Bear Bryant, head coach of the University of Alabama football program (Roll Tide!), personally visited Jack and Lillian’s living room in Sylacauga to recruit him. He ultimately chose to attend and play football at the University of Southern Mississippi which he attended from 1974 to 1976.

In 1977, Ben married Kim Connell, and together they welcomed their daughter, Tiffany Hale, in 1978. Ben adored Tiffany and took great joy in picking out outfits for her, often dressing her up and taking her for professional photos. Though Ben and Kim eventually parted ways, their bond remained strong, and they stayed extremely close throughout his life.

Later in life, Ben packed his bags and move to Detroit, Michigan where he worked at Detroit Rubber Company as an Injection Press Operator.

Outside of working and playing sports, some of Ben’s other passions included being what he called a “self-made barber” and cooking. He was a master on the grill and made some of the best BBQ! His cooking skills no doubt played a part in him winning over wife Josie Dowdell who Ben fell in love with and married in 1982. Ben and Josie completed their family with the additional of son Damon. Ben always expressed how proud he was of his son and all his accomplishments.

Ben remained one of the funniest, most jovial and most loving people you would ever meet. He loved to crack jokes and tell amazing stories.

A host of siblings, nieces, nephews and grandchildren have all, at some point, enjoyed sitting and listening to Ben tell one of his football stories. Ben also loved to laugh, and his laughter was absolutely contagious! When he was REALLY feeling good, he would bust out into song. I’m certain that we all have a favorite memory of Ben singing and old R&B tune.

Throughout his life, he loved fiercely and those of left to cherish his memory will love him and cherish our memories of him just as fiercely.

Ben is preceded in death by his wife Josie, father Jack Hale and mother Lillian Hale, brothers John Earl Hale, Virgil “Webbie” Lawson, Jerry Hale and Donnie Hale, sisters Mary Florence Carpenter, and Lillian R. Pryor, sisters-in-law Mildred Lawson, Sadie Hale and Sylvia Hale, and brother-in-law Samuel Jacob Carpenter

Left to forever cherish his memory are his children, daughter Tiffany Hale (Tadallius) and son Damon Dowdell (Teana), brothers Jesse Hale (Alma), Lawrence Hale (Pat), and Victor Hale, sister-in- law Delores Hale and six beautiful grandchildren: Zoe, Sam, Max, Chandler, Taelor and DJ.

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