Terrance L. Hale

Terrance Lamar Hale (affectionately known as "T") was born August 20, 1979 in Des Moines, Iowa to Lester Hale and Rosa Lee Hall.  

He was a student of the Detroit Public School system and continued his education in vocational training at Youthville Detroit, where he learned to work with his hands.  This experience sparked his talent for mastering trades and opened new doors of opportunity for him.  T was employed with Flex-N-Gate for 17 years and spoke fondly of his coworkers and time there.  He loved working on cars with his dad which springboarded a lifelong passion for all things automotive.  He also loved cooking for his mother and assisting with her custom print business.  It was rare to see him without a custom shirt or hat that celebrated the city he loved while showing off the drinkware she made.  Everyone who knew him ended up with a literal piece of their creative vision. 

T was a man with layers; he’d faithfully attend classic car shows such as "Crusin' Hines" and the world famous "Woodward Dream Cruise" with his dad annually to admire and compare masterpieces. One of his favorites, “the Nova” (his father's 1977 Chevy Nova), would host several VIP passengers such as Wile E. Coyote,  Bugs Bunny, the Pink Panther, and other life sized plush characters he collected throughout the years. Ironically, the character he identified most with was the Grinch – though he was nowhere near as cuddly as a cactus and his heart was perhaps two sizes too large, not too small. 

Kittens melted his heart; anyone he was close with will remember he never met a stray cat he didn’t want to keep.  While he was proud of never touching a vegetable, his daily routine included a workout every morning. T was also a savvy investor making sure to share his knowledge of Crypto with his family.  He also owned and operated a restaurant, "Fat Philly's and Burgers," with his business partner, Anthony Wilkins. T had a helping hand, open ear, a strong shoulder, and a few good jokes when anyone needed it.  His presence, infectious laugh, and smile brought joy to any room he walked in. Terrance’s journey with us ended August 3, 2023.  He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Ella Riley, stepfather Fredrick Hall, Aunts Janice Riley, Marilyn Riley, Elizabeth Mays and Cousin Mark Riley, just to name a few.  He is remembered by his mother Rosa and father Lester, step mother (Mary Hale), uncles Robert Riley, and Harvey Hale (Adrianne Hale), aunts Ramona Culver (Elder Fonzie Culver), Vanessa Roberts (Eula Roberts), brothers, Raymond Brown (Jenny Jolly-Brown), Lester Reese (Vinessa Reese), and Tedario Hale, sisters Aurora Hines (Willie Donwell, II) Sabrina Athena, Lesly Hill (Kazmere Hill), and nieces and nephews (Devon Reese, Jeniya Hines, Rakim Jordan, Raheim Hale, Ava Donwell, Carter Hill, Lennox Hill, Avery Hill, Ronald Talley III , Indigo Talley along with a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.