Surena’s daughter Mae writes in a letter dated 17 Sep 1995, "My mother's name was Surena Katherine Hall. Born June 29, 1891, Rowan Co, died Sept 1, 1981, Clark Co. She may have been married to a Henry Burns at one time, but we, my sisters, do all have separate fathers. ... Mother raised us without any financial support from anyone, or the government. That is something to say today!"

Stone in Forest Lawn Cemetery (on Earl McBrayer's farm):
Serena Hall 29 June 1891 - 31 Aug 1981

Index to Kentucky death records lists Surena Hall, d. 1 Sep 1981, age 90, in Clark Co., residence Rowan Co., certificate Vol. 54, #26507.

Her obituary in the Morehead News of Thursday, Sep 3, 1981 read “Mrs. Surena Hall, 89, 206 Heritage Place, Morehead, died Tuesday evening, Sept. 1 at the Glenway Lodge in Winchester after a brief illness. She was born June 29, 1891 in Rowan County and was a daughter of the late George W. and Nancy A. Quesinberry Hall. Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Audra Marcus, Morehead, Mrs. Thelma Stevens, Flatwood and Mrs. Mae Gilkison, Winchester; four brothers, Oliver and Howard Hall, both of Clearfield, Emmitt Hall, Morehead, and Harlan Hall, Muncie, Ind. Two sisters, Mrs. Florence Petitt, Bradenton, Fla. and Mrs. Laura Lambert, Clearfield; three grandchildren, Miss Nannett Stevens, Mrs. Elizabeth Curry, Mrs. Mary Snowden; and one great-granddaughter, Miss Erin Elizabeth Curry. Mrs. Hall was a cook at the Midland Trail Hotel for over 25 years. Graveside services were conducted Thursday, Sept. 3 at the Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Ted Greene officiating. Northcutt and Son Home for Funerals cared for arrangements. Pallbearers were Walter Gilkison, Jim Case, Adron Razor, Oliver Wilson, Howard Hall Jr. and Asa Lambert.”

1930 census of Rowan Co., Ky, precinct 10, enumerated 8 April, lists on p. 4A on Mill Ave., Morehead, as family #79:
Cecil, John T., 56, b. Ky/Va/Ky, age at first marriage 21, proprietor of hotel; Rebecca, wife, 50, b. Va/NC/Va, age at first marriage 16; Hall, Surena, servant at hotel, 38, b. Ky/Ky/Va, single; Audra E., dau, 15, b. Ky/Ky/Ky, waitress at hotel; Thelma L., dau, 7, b. Ky/Ky/Ky; Juanata, 3 5/12, b. Ky/Ky/Ky; Conley, Linda, 37, b. Ky/Ky/Ky, servant at hotel.

Rowan Co. marriage book 12, p. 76, records the marriage on 16 Feb 1920 of Henry Burns, 28, widowed, son of Frank & Maggie Burns, to Serena Hall, 28, single, daughter of George W. & Nancy Hall, at Morehead by Leslie Brown, witnesses Willie Davis & Oda Davis.

Grandma said that her sister Serena never married (and her gravestone names her Serena Hall), so the marriage cited above must not have lasted long.