Elizabeth “Betty” Reed, age 93 of Mountain Brook passed away on Thursday, December 30, 2021. She was born in Lynn, Massachusetts to Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Burke. She married William “Bill” Reed on October 9, 1954. She attended Emerson College and then went to work for General Electric. There at work, she met the love of her life Bill. After marrying, she moved around the country while Bill continued working for GE. They finally settled in Birmingham. Betty was a member of Canterbury Methodist Church for over 48 years. She was also a member of Newcomers, Ballerina Dance Clubs, and Valley Brook Garden Club.

Betty enjoyed traveling with Bill and playing golf with her husband, friends, and grandchildren. She especially enjoyed being ‘Grammy’ to all her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is survived by her devoted husband of 67 years, Bill Reed; daughter Susan Reed Hene (Paul} of Tyler, TX; Scott Reed (Stacey) of Birmingham, AL; grandchildren Stuart Hene (Sarah) of Tyler, TX; David Hene (Kristin) of Dallas, TX; Russell Hene (Brogan) of Austin, TX; Winston Reed of Birmingham, AL; Kendall Reed of Birmingham, AL; great grandchildren: Harper Hene of Dallas, TX; Burch Hene and Cullen Hene of Tyler, TX; Worth Hene, Haze Hene and Rove Hene of Austin, TX. Betty was preceded in death by her parents Cecil and May Burke, and brother Leslie Russell Burke all of Lynn, MA.

The memorial service will be on Saturday, January 29 at Canterbury Methodist Church with visitation at 10:00 and service at 11:00. The family would like to thank her wonderful caregivers Gloria Carter, Mary Mack, and caregivers of Lipford Home Care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in memory of Betty be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Alabama.

Click here to view the obituary from the funeral home.

Just posted the Nov.- Dec. 2022 newsletter Volume 34 Issue 1.

Click here to view the latest list of newsletters.

Newsletter Correction:  Concerning the article, “Southern Company Educational Gift Matching,” the URL doesn’t work.

Click on the URL below to take you to the new website.  Remember, you will need your Southern Employee ID to sign up.

https://www.cybergrants.com/southernco/SouthernCompanyindex8182021.html

Based on the excellent attendance at our November 2, 2021 luncheon, we are resuming in-person meetings in January 2022!

We will not be able to hold it at the Colonnade Office Building since it has not re-opened to allow outside meetings yet. The same goes for the Alabama Power Building. We were able to schedule the Shelby County Art Center in Columbiana, Alabama for Tuesday January 11, 2022.  Here are details of our January 11, 2022 meeting:

MEETING DETAILS:
Date: Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Location: Shelby County Arts Council
105 West College Street
Columbiana, AL 35051

Time: 1:00-2:00 pm

Program:

• Lifestyle Speaker: Sandra Antonio or Bruce Andrews of the Shelby County Arts Center will give a brief history and insights into the Arts Center.

• Keynote Speaker: Todd Geralds

Todd has spent over 25 years as an award-winning sales professional, sales trainer, and sales manager with three Fortune 500 companies. Todd is married to Jennifer Morgan Gerelds. They have four daughters, Morgan, Bailey Kay “BK,” Alli, and Maggie Leigh.

Todd is author of the book, Woodlawn, which became a major motion picture that played in theaters across the country. Todd recounts the events he witnessed as the son of Coach Tandy Gerelds. This true story of hope, faith and love has made an impact in schools, churches, athletic teams, businesses, charity organizations, and in many individual lives. His follow up book, Always Fall Forward: Life Lessons I’ll Never Forget From “The Coach,” teaches life lessons using football and lessons from his father.

James Donald “Donnie” Burdeshaw went to be with the Lord on Friday, December 17, 2021 at the age of 78 with his loving wife by his side.

Donnie was the backbone of his family; a loving husband, wonderful Daddy, Grandaddy and beloved friend. Donnie was born on October 24, 1943 in Dothan, Alabama. He was retired from Alabama Power and Southern Company Services.

Donnie enjoyed spending time with his friends and family, watching westerns, car shopping, and teaching his Sunday school class of over 30 years. Those who knew him knew his love for golf, but more than that the love he had for his Lord and Savior.

Donnie is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Nadine Burdeshaw, three brothers and one sister.

Donnie is survived by his wife of 59 years, Peggy Burdeshaw, two daughters Terry Myers (Wayne); Wendy Price (Greg), five grandchildren, Jennifer Stokley (Josh), Michelle VanderVeen (Jason), Steven Price (Whitney), Trent Myers (Mallory) and Danielle Price, great grandchildren: Eli, Landon, Emma, Lilly, Ella Kate, Baby VanderVeen and Baby Price on the way and many friends and relatives including his best friend and golf partner, John McGuirk. He will be missed and treasured by many.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 20, 2021 at Ridout’s Gardendale Chapel, 2029 Decatur Highway, Gardendale, AL 35071, with a time of visitation to begin at 1:00 PM; funeral service at 2:00 PM, followed by his burial at Oakwood Memorial Gardens, Gardendale, AL.

Click here to link to the funeral home obituary where fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared for the Burdeshaw family.

Hubbard Denson Burnum, Jr. was born in Decatur, Alabama on January, 4,1924 and passed away in Birmingham, Alabama, near his home of sixty-five years on December 18, 2020. Denson’s parents, H. D. Burnum, Sr., and Sally Brown Burnum of Decatur, AL, passed away in 1962 and 1969, respectively. His sisters Sally Burnum Gerhardt and Mary Emily Boggs passed away in the late 1990’s. Denson lived with his beloved wife, Jinksie, until her passing on August 20 of 2020.

He is survived by sons H. Denson Burnum, III (Joann) of Franklin, Tennessee, Allen Brewer Burnum, and David Logan Burnum, both of Mountain Brook. Denson is also survived by grandchildren Anne Burnum-Looney (Brian Looney) and their daughter Ember of Columbia, Missouri, Elisa J Burnum of Birmingham, and John A Burnum (Fallon) of Cumming, Georgia.

During World War II, Denson served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne where he jumped with his unit in Holland in Operation Market Garden. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he returned to college at the University of Alabama where he earned a degree in civil engineering.

Denson and Virginia Adams Brewer married on October 9, 1950, immediately before his deployment in the Korean conflict. On return from that service, they lived in Florida for a few years, where sons Denny and Allen were born. The family moved to Birmingham in the 1950s and found a home in Mountain Brook where his youngest son, David, was born.

In Birmingham, Denson began a career with Alabama Power Company in the engineering division. He eventually retired from Southern Services, the engineering division of Alabama Power’s parent Southern Company in the late 1980’s.

After joining Independent Presbyterian Church on Highland Avenue in Birmingham in 1958, he remained an active member through most of his life.

He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Crimson Tide football team and enjoyed every opportunity to see the team in action.

In retirement, he traveled with his wife Jinksie, enjoyed time with grandchildren, friends and Alabama fans, and his Independent Presbyterian Church family.

A memorial service will be held at Ridout’s Valley Chapel on Saturday, December 11th at 2 pm with visitation 1 hour prior.

Click here to link to the funeral home website.