Deacon Exton Hullaby Sr.
October 21, 1917 – August 8, 2016
DEACON EXTON HULLABY, SR. was born to William and Lillie Hullaby in Ringgold, Louisiana, where he was baptized at the age of nine by Rev. Elijah Berry, the Pastor of St. Mary’s Baptist Church. He grew up actively participating in Sunday School and BYPU. In his teen years, Exton accompanied his father to Shreveport, Louisiana where they began working at a fencing company. On June 12, 1936, he married the lovely Ethel Alexander. Their union was blessed with four children; Gloria Jean, Exton Jr., Lillie and Avis Elaine. Ethel, his beloved wife of sixty-five years and his eldest daughter, Gloria preceded him in death. In 1941, Exton and his family moved to San Diego, California, where he began working for Chrysler Auto Sales. He later joined Pacific Bell Telephone Company, where he retired after twenty-eight years of exemplary service. In 1942, Exton united with Bethel Baptist Church under the spiritual guidance of the late Dr. C. H. Hampton and continued under Dr. John W. Ringgold. He remained a faithful member for seventy-three years. He was appointed to the Deacon Board in the 1940’s where he served for over sixty-six years; twenty three of them as Secretary. He was an active Layman and a member of the Crusader Ministry for over fifty-nine years, a choir member for twenty-five years, a male chorus member for over thirty-nine years and a Sunday School teacher for fifty years. He served as an instructor for the Missions Ministry ministering in the Dorcas Circle. In the late 1970’s, Exton was sent to Haiti by Bethel Baptist on a mission journey to check the needs of an orphanage which Bethel was supporting. He was the first African American President of the Bowling Association in 1980, board member and treasurer of the San Diego Chapter NAACP and a life time Golden Heritage Member of the NAACP. Exton Hullaby was instrumental in bringing and introducing well known Gospel Groups to San Diego. He was also an original member of San Diego’s gospel singing group, the ‘Spiritual Kings”, which later became the “New Spiritual Kings”. He unselfishly used his rich, flawless, melodious voice to bless the people of God throughout the years. He will be truly missed by all who knew and loved him. On Monday, August 8, 2016, Deacon Exton Hullaby Sr. departed this life at the La Jolla Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He leaves to celebrate his homegoing: His children, Lillie Hullaby Fryer (Will), Exton Hullaby Jr. (Debra) and Avis Elaine Hullaby; grandchildren, Rodney Fryer (Marian), Rachelle Fryer Simmons (Michael), Eric Balancier (Theresa), Latrese Williams (Jason), Megan Hartsel and Matthew Hartsel; great-grandchildren, Jayla, Jeremiah and Jayelle Williams, Natasha and Myshayla Fryer, Mark, Derek and Nick Balancier, Alex McDowell and Chloe DeJesus; great-great grandchildren, Malaya Morgan, Noah McDowell and a host of other relatives, his Bethel Baptist Church Family and many friends. Services were held Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at Bethel Baptist Church; entombment at Greenwood Mausoleum. Final arrangements were entrusted to Anderson-Ragsdale Mortuary.
