Sorry that the following obituary is being published late but the life and passing of our friend Jack Redd should not be forgotten…
Jack Allen Redd, age 74, passed away on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 surrounded by a host of people he loved. He was born in Selma, Alabama, raised together with four brothers, and his baby sister, on beloved Union Street.
The fourth child and the first with brown eyes, Jack often joked of having to walk home from the hospital when he was born. He was a star athlete in high school, and his jersey number 44 would follow him throughout his life and be celebrated by those who loved him.
As a young man, Jack joined the National Guard. He regaled us with tales about his time in service. While studying drafting at Falls College in Atlanta in 1965, Jack began dating the girl who would become the love of his life. Their love was a marriage for the ages, having just celebrated 50 years together this year. The couple of two soon became a family of four, with two daughters.
Jack worked most of his career as a senior designer in Dothan and Birmingham for the Southern Company. He enjoyed his work and took pride in arriving early. On the weekends, he took his family on numerous trips in their pop-up camper and began a decades long love affair with camping in Elkmont Campground in the Smokies every Fall. A skilled backpacker, hiker, and outdoorsman, he felt most at home in the woods. He taught RA’s with his best friend Tommy; the two of them were also avid cyclists and rode together most mornings until recently, prevented by illness.
Jack was loved by everyone in his life, but he gave back even more love. His six grandchildren saw him as a superhero, Pa Pa, who could start a fire from wet wood, who would swing them around, who would hold them in warmth until they fell asleep.
Jack came from a big, loving family, and spent his life loving and teaching this love to his children and grandchildren. He was Jackie to his mother, Sweetpea to his wife, Daddy to his daughters, Uncle Jack to his nieces and nephews, and Pa Pa to his grandchildren. His youngest grandchild is saying, “I want Pa Pa to sit with me, to keep me warm.”
We are all brokenhearted, consoled only because we know he’s now in the arms of Jesus.
Jack was predeceased by his parents, James Cecil and Evelyn Redd, and his brother Robert Redd.
Survivors include Jack’s wife, Nancy Mott Redd; two daughters, Amy Redd Bell (David) and Laurie Redd Shows (Stephen); six grandchildren, Jackson Shows, Luke Shows, Elliotte Bell, Elizabeth Shows, Harper Bell, and Brooks Bell; three brothers, Cecil Redd, Tom Redd, and Bernie Redd; one sister, Wanda Redd Mount; and dozens of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Burial was at Southern Heritage Cemetery, Pelham on Saturday, July 7, 2018.
