As he reflected on the life of his late wife, Nancye Tarkington Hall, Clifton Hall explained: “She would do anything to help people. A lot of times, she’d deliver food to neighbors or friends who were sick. She always wanted to help others because she grew up poor and was thankful that the Lord had blessed her.”
The truth of Clifton’s words is evident in the life Nancye lived. Professionally, she served as a labor and delivery nurse, first in Kentucky and later in Nashville, devoting countless hours to caring for mothers and newborn babies. Outside of work, her compassion continued to shine through in everything she did, whether volunteering at church, tending her garden, or simply stopping to share a kind conversation with a neighbor.
Nancye loved gardening. To her delight, even the tiniest seed could blossom into a vibrant petunia or a towering snapdragon bursting with color. All it took was a little dedication, patience, and care, along with Nancye’s deeply nurturing spirit.
In many ways, Nancye viewed generosity as a responsibility — a way to use her blessings to uplift others. That desire to serve eventually led her to become involved with University of the Cumberlands.
Early in their marriage, Nancye learned about the work Cumberlands was doing to provide an affordable, accessible, high-quality education for students from all backgrounds. Having grown up on a rural Kentucky farm herself, she felt especially connected to the university’s commitment to Appalachian students and the work-study opportunities that allow students to support themselves while pursuing their education.
Because of that connection, the Halls began giving to Cumberlands in 1976 and have faithfully supported the university’s mission ever since.
But what fuels a commitment to giving that has lasted nearly 50 years, even through tremendous personal loss? For Clifton, the answer is simple: it is what Nancye wanted. It is also a reflection of the values they both learned growing up.
“I grew up relatively poor, and Nancye did too,” he said. “But my parents taught me to work hard, be truthful, and get an education. Nancye and I wanted to help people from backgrounds like ours get an education and build a better life than the one they started with.”
Their desire to help future generations was so strong that the couple took steps to ensure their impact would continue long after they were gone. Before Nancye passed away, the Halls created a Will that designated a generous portion of their estate to University of the Cumberlands. The gift will establish The Nancye Tarkington Hall, Clifton Hall, and Betty Tarkington Schneider Endowed Scholarship Fund.
“The choices Nancye made when we set up the Will are going to help people for years and years,” Clifton said. “Even after I’m gone, it will still be helping kids.” He hopes students who benefit from their generosity understand the heart behind their giving.
“I just hope those students realize there was someone who understood what it was like to grow up the way they did — someone who understood the desire to build a better life and wanted to make education possible for them.”
For nearly five decades, the Hall family’s generosity has impacted countless students at University of the Cumberlands. And much like the seeds Nancye carefully nurtured into bloom, her legacy of kindness and planned giving will continue helping generations of college students bloom into their full potential.
Create a Legacy
You can create a legacy, too. For more information on making a planned gift, please contact:
Tyler Smith
Office of Planned Giving
plannedgifts@ucumberlands.edu · 606-539-3571