(Black PR Wire) St. Augustine, FL — Myrtis Louise Hall Mason, a devoted wife, beloved mother, cherished grandmother, revered educator, and community leader, peacefully embraced the sunset of her life on June 3, 2024. She was 95.
Born in Palatka, Florida and raised in St. Augustine’s Lincolnville neighborhood, Myrtis Louise Hall Mason is highly regarded as the consummate educator. Mrs. Mason dedicated her life to her family, education and community service.
Myrtis Louise Hall Mason was married to the love of her life, her beloved husband, Dr. Otis Mason, for 73 years. They both attended Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida, and were married during her junior year in college. Mrs. Mason graduated with her class in 1952 with a well-deserved degree in Elementary Education. The union of Myrtis and Otis blessed them with two beautiful daughters, Pamela and Deidre.
Myrtis Louise Hall Mason was a dedicated and committed teacher who started her teaching career in Armstrong, Florida (also in St. Johns County). She then moved to Excelsior Elementary in St. Augustine to teach, along with her husband, Otis, in the same classroom where she was once a student. Ironically enough, she taught just down the hall from her then mother-in-law, who was still working. She loved teaching students in first and second grades, where she could see their progress from the first day of school to the last. To this day, many former students credit her with patiently guiding their hands while learning to write their names.
A strong community supporter, Mrs. Mason was committed to giving back to the community where she grew up. Her passion for education and her love for the community extended into community service.
Excelsior School is now the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center, of which both Myrtis and Otis were original founders. This building, still open to the general public after so many years, holds many wonderful memories for their families.
Education was always a key concentration for Myrtis. She taught first and second grades, plus Title One reading in St. John’s County Public Schools for 40 years. She spent decades nurturing her students and helping to lead them on a learning path to future success. Myrtis experienced such joy when she was able to help children discover that all-important ah-ha moment and make a lasting impact on her students and her community.
In addition to impacting the lives of her students, Myrtis was the very wind beneath Otis’ wings, and was the force at home and kept it all together. She was truly a staunch supporter and an awesome mother throughout all his public office endeavors. The family fondly recalls Myrtis making birthday cakes for their daughters, Pam and Deidre, and shipping the desserts to them while in college. She also made the same cakes for her beloved grandson, Jamil.
Myrtis Louise Hall Mason was a lifelong member of St. Paul AME Church in St. Augustine, Florida. She was baptized there as a child, and she served in the adult choir for many years. Mrs. Mason loved the old hymns and Peace Be Still was one of her favorite songs. She will forever be remembered for her faith, fellowship and service.
Mrs. Mason will also be fondly remembered by her community organizations, including Jack and Jill of America, Jacksonville Chapter; Phi Delta Kappa, Inc.; Delta Sigma Theta – Daytona Beach Chapter; and The Links, Incorporated – Daytona Beach Chapter. Throughout her career, she received several awards and accolades for her outstanding community service. She was recognized by Outstanding Elementary Teachers of America, Lincolnville Museum & Cultural Center, and the NAACP.
The bond between Otis Alphonso Mason and Myrtis Louise Hall Mason was unbreakable for 73 years.
Foremost, she was a loving wife to Otis. She was also a phenomenal mother to Deidre and Pamela and grandmother to Jamil, who she raised for two years while giving him a strong start in school!
As we honor and celebrate the life of Myrtis Louise Hall Mason, we take comfort in the fact that they are reunited once again … and their love story will never end. As the family likes to say, “They are just walking each other home.”
Myrtis Louise Hall Mason is survived by daughters Pamela Mason and Deidre Billingslea, Orlando, FL; grandson Jamil Saunders of Orlando, FL; and one living brother, Donald Hall of East Palatka, FL (Valerie) and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Otis Mason; Mother, Essie Mae Spates; Father, Clarence Hall, Sr.; and two brothers, John Hall and Clarence Herbert Hall, Jr.
The Wake Service will be held on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Public viewing is from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The Wake Service begins at 6:00 p.m. at St. Paul AME Church in St. Augustine. The Celebration of Life Service takes place on Friday, June 28, 2024. Public viewing is from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. The Celebration of Life Service begins at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul AME Church in St. Augustine. Funeral arrangements are handled by St. Johns Family Funeral Home.
To continue the Mason’s Family legacy of service, the family has established the Dr. Otis A. Mason and Myrtis H. Mason Scholarship Fund at Florida A&M University for students from St. Johns County majoring in education. For more information, visit ttps://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/f1ZiRw?utm_medium=qr&utm_source=qr&vid=13ga56.
