Doris Ann Hall

Celebrating a Life of Love, Creativity, and Resilience

Doris was a proud second-generation Detroiter. She lived a remarkable life filled with family, faith and love. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were her greatest blessings. Her life passions revolved around fashion, art, travel, education and some good old fashion barbecue.

Doris was born on May 23, 1927, on the old west side of Detroit. She was the youngest daughter of ten children of Porter and Minnie Dillard. As a child, Doris was fun-loving, independent, and generous, with a vivid imagination. She attended Wingert Elementary, McMichael Junior High, and graduated from Northwestern High School in 1945.

Doris fondly recalled picking cherries from the trees in her backyard with her younger brothers for her mother to bake pies. Over time, Doris nurtured her talent and passion for sewing and fashion design influenced by her mom and Aunt Hazel. Growing up, she enjoyed annual visits to the Michigan State Fair with her father, "Papa," and siblings. In addition, she loved going on trips to Chatham, Ontario, with her mother and brothers, to visit Canadian relatives. She also enjoyed family picnics at Belle Isle and Kensington Park which is a tradition that continues today.

She enrolled in Wayne University in 1945 with the intention of pursuing a degree in fashion design. Her initial desired career path was to become a fashion designer, but this was discouraged due to the racism of the times. In spite of this, her passion was expressed through the beautiful clothes that she designed in her personal life. Doris graduated with a BA in Art Education in 1950. She returned to the currently named Wayne State University in 1977, to obtain a Masters of Arts degree in Art Education. Doris was initiated into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Tau chapter at Wayne in 1949 and later was recognized for 75 years of sisterhood in 2024.

After graduating from Wayne, she taught art in the Detroit Public Schools until her retirement in 1992.

Doris married Frederick Leslie Quarles in 1951. Four children were born to this union: Leslie, Renay, Frederick, and Jennifer. She later divorced, in 1961. In 1985, Doris married Joseph Hall and moved onto Oakman Blvd. in Detroit. Through that union her family was expanded by two step daughters, Elaine Lawrence and Helena Mays.

Doris was married until Joe's passing in 1994. She remained in her Oakman Blvd. home until she moved to Brookdale Senior Living Southfield in June 2025.

Doris' travels took her to Africa, Asia, Europe, Mediterranean, Central and South America, Canada, the Caribbean, and throughout the United States. She enjoyed attending cultural events, entertaining family and friends, cooking, listening to jazz and pop, going to concerts, playing bridge, skiing, line dancing, bowling and golfing. She was an active member of the Detroit Seniors in Motion exercise group at Northwest Activities Center prior to moving to Brookdale.

Doris was a proud grandmother and enjoyed taking her grandchildren on trips to Cedar Point-where she rode roller coasters-and to the cottage in Holly, Michigan.

A true fashionista, Doris will be remembered for her bold, vibrant style that matched her magnetic personality and charmed everyone she met. Deeply rooted in family, she maintained strong connections with her children, siblings, extended family, and dear friends. She looked forward to Dillard family reunions, where her famous blueberry and peach cobblers were always in high demand.

Doris is preceded in death by her parents, Minnie and Porter; siblings Porter "Buster" Dillard (Gladys), Helen Prather (Joseph), Katherine Rivers (Hudson), Lucille Green (Joseph), Harriett Brown (James), Paul Dillard and James Dillard (Josephine); grandson Frederick Pope; and husband Joseph Hall.

Left to cherish her memory are her children Leslie Quarles, Renay Pope (Harold), Dr. Frederick Quarles (L'Tanya), and Jennifer Johnson (Wesley), step daughters Elaine Lawrence and Helena Mays (Dexter), grandchildren, Jerrod Quarles (Darcy), Dr. Farron Johnson (Tim), Daman Pope (Nadia), Chris Quarles (Eleni), Lindsay Halik, Ebony Brown (Joseph); Suvonne Hall, Joseph Jones, Marilyn Payne (Justin), Devin Mays and David Mays; nine wonderful great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Marilynn Dillard; long-time friend Alice Johnson; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Her legacy of love, creativity, and vibrancy will live on through the countless lives she has touched. Doris will forever remain in our hearts