CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF ANDRIA HALL
CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF ANDRIA HALL
Andria Lynette Hall Sizemore (1957 – 2009)
Born in Henderson, North Carolina on April 26, 1957, Andria Lynette Hall Sizemore, an Emmy award-winning journalist and Christian communications strategist, was called home to be with the Lord Jesus Christ on Monday, January 12, 2009 after a courageous battle with breast cancer.
At the age of four, Andria and her family moved to “Preachers Row” in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York where she learned early about motivation as a preacher and teacher’s kid. She was after all, a child of the Civil Rights Movement.
Her mother is a retired New Jersey counselor and educator, while her father, who worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., served as pastor of the same church for more than 40 years.
A career broadcaster, Andria inherited the traits of teaching, counseling and inspiring others with the Word of God because of her faith foundation.
Delightful, insightful, articulate, passionate, energetic, faithful and forgiving describe this “southern girl with northern exposure.” Andria eventually commanded the news anchor desk of the world renowned CNN/USA in addition to working in the nation’s number one market at the number one station in New York City – New York’s NBC affiliate. She has been a national news correspondent with FOX Network and her work earned the industry’s prestigious Gabriel and Dupont Awards while working in Boston, Massachusetts.
“Marrying the Camera with the Cross,” Andria excelled as President of SpeakEasy M.E.D.I.A., Inc. – a media and public-presentation consulting firm, based in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. She Ministered, Edified and Divinely Inspired All … to the glory of God, leaving a rich legacy – her love for the Lord and His people, an inspiring spirit of excellence, and dedication to service.
Andria provided media and communications coaching to two leaders in the Jamaican government; a candidate who was in the running to lead the World Health Organization; and the executive staff of Half Moon resort, a luxury property in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Her company produced life-changing women’s conferences in the Caribbean, promoting faith tourism. Andria was well loved and respected throughout the Caribbean community at home and abroad and played a key production role in numerous editions of Counterpart International’s Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx). CMEx is designed to improve the quality of media coverage of sustainable tourism in the Caribbean.
Andria authored three books, This Far by Faith: How to Put God First in Everyday Living; The Walk at Work: Seven Steps to Spiritual Success on the Job (Random House); and The Walk to Wealth: Seven Guiding Principles to Prosperity (SpeakEasy MEDIA Publishing).
She also was a Director with YTB Travel International, an Illinois-based online travel company; and a Board Director of Counterpart Caribbean, a sustainable development organization, based in Barbados.
Andria worked passionately as Executive Producer, Creator and Host of the radio programs, Andria Hall PROFILES! – The Walk As A Woman, and The Walk at Work: Committed to Your Calling and Your Career. Her radio broadcasts have been heard throughout the United States on The Sheridan Gospel Network, WBLS in New York, and WMCA and Salem Communications in New Jersey. Today, she can still be seen on www.faithstreams.com as host of America at Worship, which formerly aired on the Hallmark Channel.
Andria held an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Virginia University of Lynchburg, and has been featured in The Washington Post, Essence, Ebony, Jet, Precious Times, and many other newspapers and publications across the country and the world. A former columnist for Gospel Today magazine, Andria also played a supporting role in the movie “The Good Son.”
In addition to winning the prestigious Emmy Award for Hosting, she has garnered numerous journalism awards. Andria was respected as a “faith and work” expert, showing that the two need not be separated but rather, when faith is lived out in one’s everyday vocation, true success is achieved. Andria and her husband, Clayton Sizemore (CNN’s Manager of Operations), made their home in New Jersey.
She was predeceased by her grandparents, Evelyn and Walter Sellars, and Aurelia and Grant Hall. Celebrating her life, she leaves her mother Mabel Hall, father Reverend Willie J. Hall, husband Clayton Sizemore, three children Amber, Cameron and Chase, sister Akosua Yeboah, aunts Marjorie (Matthew) Carden, Catherine Eason and Geraldine Young, and a large group of devoted relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 16, 2009 at Bethel Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York (265 Bergen Street, NY 11217) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., while her viewing and celebration is scheduled for First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey (771 Somerset Street, NJ 08873) on Saturday, January 17, 2009 starting at 8 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked well-wishers to make contributions to the SpeakEasy M.E.D.I.A. Foundation which Andria established to minister, mentor and mold the future generations.
Contributions can be sent to SpeakEasy M.E.D.I.A. Foundation – 1812 Front Street, Scotch Plains, New Jersey 07076. For further information, email info@speakeasymedia.com.