Aside from reports disclosing the tragic details surrounding a young man’s death, his obituary has been shared online, and a GoFundMe page has been created to help his family fund funeral plans.
The Barberton community in Ohio is reeling from the tragic death of a young man named Noah Hall, whose life was cut short by a falling tree. He passed away on April 15, 2025, leaving behind his beloved mother, Ashley Hall, three sisters, grandparents, uncles, and aunts. He was only 21 years old.
According to local authorities, the devastating accident occurred late Tuesday morning, around 11:15 a.m., when a tree crashed through a home in the 100 block of 2nd Street SW.
Inside, Noah had been lying in bed. Emergency responders arrived swiftly at the house, only to find the 21-year-old still in his bedroom, pinned beneath a portion of the massive tree. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The man who was killed Tuesday when a tree fell onto a home on Second Street as 21-year-old Noah Hall of Barberton.
According to officials, first responders found Hall in bed with a portion of the fallen tree resting on top of him. He was pronounced dead at the scene. pic.twitter.com/rBmI9lVvDD
— Rick (@rwilley112) April 16, 2025
The Summit County Medical Examiner had scheduled an autopsy for Wednesday, April 16. As fire crews and the Special Operations Rescue Team worked to assess the damage on the day the incident occurred, Barberton Fire Marshal David Polacek acknowledged the unpredictable nature of such tragedies.
He noted that although storms like this can sometimes be anticipated, their full impact often isn’t. “Things happen and you know, that’s unfortunate,” he remarked solemnly.
The Summit County Medical Examiner confirms one person has died after a tree fell into a home.
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What we know on this tragic story: https://t.co/pWSGNji5WY pic.twitter.com/uSUVaGRimx— Cleveland 19 News (@cleveland19news) April 15, 2025
According to the fire marshal, it is likely that the tree fell due to a storm. He has also urged the public to ensure they have either homeowners’ or renters’ insurance in case of unexpected misfortunes.
Tree care professionals from Barberton Tree Service were also dispatched to manage the hazardous debris in the aftermath of the tragedy, with experienced arborist Lisa Devenport calling the event heartbreaking — and possibly preventable.
Barberton Fire Department reports one fatality from fallen treehttps://t.co/ZBeMJkht6Z pic.twitter.com/5dQKEJmcpi
— Akron.com (@Akrondotcom) April 17, 2025
During her 30 years in the tree business, she witnessed a similar incident last year (2024), when a person died due to a tree falling on their home in Akron.
The Barberton Tree Service representative urged residents to remain vigilant by checking the health of trees near their homes.
Signs such as leaning trunks, fungi growth, cracks in the bark, water pooling at the base, lack of leaves, and animals running in and out of the trees are warnings of potential danger. Civilians should call a certified arborist should they see any of these signs in order to keep their homes as safe as possible.
“Talk to your neighbors […] work together […] with companies that will work with you and your neighbors to keep everything and your property safe,” the arborist encouraged.
In the hours following the tragedy, Noah’s mother, Ashley, took to Facebook to share the haunting aftermath of the storm’s deadly strike. Her posts include a series of sobering images that captured the destruction left behind — a once-quiet home now fractured by chaos.
In the photos, the white house stands with a gaping hole carved into the upper level, the broken remains of a fallen tree jutting out from its side like a splintered spear. Emergency responders, clad in reflective gear, are seen scattered across the soaked pavement and surrounding yard, some standing near the tree’s massive trunk as it is lifted from the home by heavy-duty cranes.
Clusters of first responders from multiple agencies worked shoulder to shoulder beneath a gray sky as cleanup efforts unfolded. Bright orange-clad workers from Barberton Tree Service and Ricks Crane Service remained on-site long after the initial call, assisting in the delicate task of clearing the debris.
Amid the flurry of flashing lights and activity, a community member named Willi Meeks left a poignant comment on Ashley’s post, acknowledging the heartbreak and lauding the swift action of those on scene. “Barberton cannot catch a break. Prayers to whoever’s family this is […] his name was Noah. So everyone put his family in your prayers at this time [sic]. 🙏,” penned the community member.
In another post, Ashley shared more harrowing images of the home where her son took his final breath. The photos show the aftermath in striking clarity — the white house now partially gutted, its top corner obliterated, leaving behind exposed wooden beams and collapsed roofing. Jagged limbs and a twisted tree trunk lay scattered across the front yard.
Against the backdrop of broken boards and snapped branches, Ashley’s words cut just as deep, “Today has been a night mare. One of a mothers worst fears is getting a call your son have been killed. By the act of nature [sic].”
Attached to her post was an excerpt from The Barberton Gazette, offering a glimpse into the young man lost beneath that splintered roof. “He was a joy to talk to,” Ashley told a local reporter, adding that Noah had only moved to Ohio six months prior in hopes of discovering life.
Originally from Owensboro, Kentucky, he had graduated from Clinton High School in Tennessee in 2021, and was working at a Wendy’s in Norton at the time of his death. As the only boy among his siblings, he cherished his sisters and adored video games and football.
But more than anything, Ashley described her son as a compassionate soul, a person who listened to anyone in need of someone to talk to.
Anyone who glances through Ashley’s Facebook profile will immediately sense the deep love she held for her son. Her page is a living collage of family memories — smiles shared over dinners, playful moments during outings, and sweet photos of the two simply enjoying each other’s company.
In one, Noah towers affectionately over his mother as they pose on a sunlit porch, both beaming beneath a golden “2021” backdrop. In others, they lean in close for a selfie, faces pressed together.
To those who knew him best, Noah wasn’t just physically towering — he was a gentle soul with an even bigger heart. Standing at six feet, five inches tall and wearing size fourteen shoes, he was known as Ashley’s “big teddy bear.”
In an emotional interview, she described him as someone who led with kindness and compassion, calling him “a big guy with a big heart.” At just 21, Noah had only begun laying the foundation for his future.
After relocating to Barberton, he secured work and moved in with a friend from a previous job. The two were sharing the house on 2nd Street SW before the tragedy ensued.
According to what Ashley was told by fire officials, Noah had been asleep in a second-floor bedroom when the 80-foot tree, weakened by intense wind, suddenly collapsed onto the home, crashing through the structure and ending his life in an instant. “Who knew that would be the end of it? Who knew that he’d be coming home in a casket?” Ashley said during a Zoom interview.
While Noah was the only one home upstairs, three residents, who lived in the downstairs unit, were spared — not by luck, but by absence. Among them were Tanner Soltis, his girlfriend, and his brother. The shock of what happened left the roommate and his loved ones reeling. “It’s pretty devastating,” he admitted, sharing how surreal it all felt in the immediate aftermath.
By Wednesday, the weight of it had sunk in as the resident began collecting his belongings from the now-condemned house, which means the three housemates have to find another place to live. “The house is the house. You can get another house or possessions, but someone lost their life because of this. It’s just terrible,” he noted.
In the wake of Noah’s tragic death, friends and family have come together to ensure he receives the farewell he deserves. A GoFundMe page has been launched to help cover funeral and burial expenses. The campaign features a close-up photo of Noah in a backwards cap and safety glasses, gazing off to the side with quiet strength.
“Yesterday we lost an amazing soul,” the campaign’s heartfelt message begins, describing Noah as someone whose “humor flooded rooms” and whose kindness touched everyone he encountered.
It paints a portrait of a hard-working, compassionate, and resilient young man — one who never let the cruelty of the world harden his spirit. “He didn’t have a single evil bone in his body,” reads the message.
The fundraiser’s goal is set at $500, and as of now, $310 has already been raised through four donations. Organizers are urging anyone who can to contribute, no matter how small the amount, so that Noah can be laid to rest with dignity. “We love you so much Noah,” the post concludes.
To honor Noah’s life, an obituary has been posted online. The tribute remembers him not only for his kind and generous spirit but also for the simple joys he cherished — stars in the sky, laughing with loved ones, and holding his family close.
The obituary also provides details of the service that will celebrate his life: visitation will be held from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, followed by a funeral service at 6:00 p.m., both at the James H. Davis Funeral Home.
Noah is survived by his mother, Ashley, and three sisters — Aaliyah and Brizanna Graves, and Jayden Ramos — as well as grandparents, aunts, and uncles who now carry his memory forward.
For those who wish to share their own stories or messages of love, an online tribute book is available on the funeral home’s website. Friends and family are encouraged to leave written memories, which will be compiled into a keepsake book for Ashley and the family to cherish.
Expressions of sympathy may also be made through donations to the Noah Hall Memorial Fund. At this time, we wish to extend our most heartfelt condolences to Ashley, Noah’s siblings, all his family members, loved ones, and friends who are mourning such a significant loss. We hope for their healing amid their time of grief. RIP, dear Noah.
