He was considered the “happy warrior” of Richmond politics.

Franklin Perkins “Frank” Hall, a silver-haired man with a ready smile and warm handshake, made friends with everyone he met — a trait that stood him in good stead during his 33 years in the Virginia General Assembly.

The lifelong Democrat fought for Richmond and left his fingerprints on legislation and funding affecting public schools, affordable housing, higher education and a host of other issues — all while earning the respect of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

He was perhaps best known for pushing for the upgrade of community services for the mentally ill and reducing dependence on mental hospitals.

He also was at the forefront in gaining funding to reduce high school dropout rates and in pushing to restore the voting and civil rights of released felons.

During Mr. Hall’s tenure from 1976 to 2009 in the House, he rose to minority leader and also served as the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, where he helped write the state’s budget.

An expert on family law in his legal practice, he also was the founder of a savings and loan and a community bank that focused on lending to small businesses.

Mr. Hall once described himself as “the luckiest guy in the world. I couldn’t be where I am today without help from a lot of people from across the state.”

His impact as a legislator, attorney, banker and community leader is being remembered following his death Monday, May 25, 2015, following a battle with cancer. He was 76.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, May 30, 2015, at First Presbyterian Church, 4602 Cary Street Road.

The family of Mr. Hall will receive friends and the public from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 29, 2015, at the Parham Chapel of Woody Funeral Home, 1771 N. Parham Road.

The son of an Amelia County farmer, Mr. Hall ranked among the most powerful figures in the General Assembly before he stepped down in 2009 to briefly serve as a commissioner on the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. He was appointed by Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine and removed from the board by Republican Gov. Robert “Bob” McDonnell in early 2010.

At the time of his death, Mr. Hall was still practicing law while also serving on the boards of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Virginia Commonwealth University and First Community Bancshares, the parent company of the Bluefield-based First Community Bank.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who counted on Mr. Hall as a political confidant, paid tribute to the former delegate as “as a key leader in state budget decisions and a strong advocate for the restoration of civil rights for released felons.”

U.S. Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, D-3rd, the dean of Virginia’s congressional delegation, recalled Mr. Hall as a “consummate public servant.” In a statement issued Tuesday, Congressman Scott said, “I always valued Mr. Hall’s guidance and counsel.”

During his 17 terms representing the 69th House District, Mr. Hall “was a tireless advocate for the city,” stated Mayor Dwight D. Jones, a former delegate who worked with Mr. Hall in the legislature.

Describing Mr. Hall as “a good friend and a good man,” Mayor Jones noted that “we worked together closely on numerous projects to move the city forward.”

Mr. Hall was “involved in everything over the years, from public schools to health care and mental health, housing, higher education and much more,” the mayor said.

Mr. Hall’s most important legacy might have been his unsung service to his constituents, said Henrico Sen. A. Donald McEachin, chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus and a former colleague of Mr. Hall in the House.

“Out on the hustings” Sen. McEachin said, “there were always plenty of people with stories of how Mr. Hall had helped them with personal matters, like getting their house painted.”

Calling Mr. Hall “a consummate gentleman,” Sen. McEachin recalled getting trounced in 1991, when he challenged Mr. Hall in the majority-black 69th District. “When I finally made it to the House from a different district (the 74th), he never held a grudge. We worked closely on numerous issues.”

Mr. Hall’s successor in the House, Betsy B. Carr, D-69th, also spoke of Mr. Hall’s relationship with the people he served. “He always had time to devote to an individual no matter the concern. He treated everyone with thoughtfulness and care. I always had constituents come up to me and talk about things he had done for them.”

Mr. Hall got his start in politics after graduating from Lynchburg College and while earning dual graduate degrees from American University in Washington in business administration and law.

While earning his law degree, he worked on the staff of his mentor, U.S. Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey, and continued after Mr. Humphrey was elected vice president in 1964 on the ticket with President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Mr. Hall then spent three years as an assistant to Robert C. Weaver, the first U.S. secretary of housing and urban development and the first African-American to hold a cabinet-level position.

Mr. Hall returned to Richmond in 1969 with his wife, Phoebe, also an attorney and co-founder of the Richmond Women’s Bar, to open the Hall & Hall law firm, a five-attorney practice that specializes in family and elder law.

Mr. Hall first ran for the General Assembly in 1975, after five years of researching and drafting legislation for the House Courts of Justice Committee as its outside counsel.

He rose to chair the House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns and to serve on the budget conference committee. He also served as House minority leader from 2002 to 2007 and was a senior member of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, the legislature’s watchdog.

Outside the legislature, he also became involved with the finance industry. In 1981, he founded and chaired the board of Cardinal Savings & Loan in Richmond. After selling his interest in 1986, he founded and chaired the board of Commonwealth Bank, which focused on small business loans. After the bank was merged into First Community Bank in 2003, he served on the board of its holding company.

In addition to his wife, survivors include two children, Franklin P. Hall Jr. and Kimberly H. Johnson, and three grandchildren.