Each year our organization makes donations to three charities during our November Holiday Luncheon.  The charities are selected from the nominations we receive from our retirees. It’s that time of year again!

FYI, last year’s recipients were:
Hope-Filled Rooms
National Veterans’ Foundation
Ethan’s Heart

If you would like to nominate an organization for 2025, please click on this linked form and submit it via e-mail or by USPS no later than October 1, 2025 to:

Charlotte Graham
2521 Magnolia Place
Birmingham, AL 35242
dricharlo@gmail.com

Just posted the Sep. – Oct. 2025 newsletter Volume 37 Issue 5.

Click here to view the latest list of newsletters.

Greg Clyburn passed away on the afternoon of July 25, 2025, at the age of 78.

Although he lived in a beautiful home in Pelham, Alabama, for the last 42 years, Greg held immense pride in being a born-and-raised New Orleanian. The time he spent growing up in New Orleans in his family’s home on Piety Drive, going on fishing trips with his father, and eating his mother’s cooking left an indelible imprint on the person Greg became. He enjoyed nothing more than singing the city’s praises and regaling anyone who would listen with an exhaustive knowledge of the city’s streets, stores, restaurants, and bowling alleys that “ain’t there no mo’.” Louis Armstrong asked the question, “Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?” to which Greg could concretely answer, “Yes.”

A graduate of Louisiana State University and a member of the Lambda Chi fraternity, Greg was rarely seen not flying the colors of his beloved Tigers or the New Orleans Saints, of which he was a passionate and lifelong supporter.

Greg received an Masters in English Literature from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and continued his personal intellectual development every day of his life, driven by an intense curiosity to devour knowledge, wisdom, and perspective. His expansive library of thousands of meticulously highlighted and annotated books represents his near-infinite spectrum of interests, openness to the diversity of ideas, and passion for the written word.

A member of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Vestavia Hills, Greg cultivated a deep relationship with Christ through silent prayer and meditation, always welcoming the questions, doubt, and introspection that come with an active pursuit of understanding and spiritual enlightenment.

Greg’s professional life took him from climbing telephone poles as a lineman for South Central Bell in New Orleans to the suit-and-tie corporate telecommunications world, eventually retiring from both AT&T and Southern Company.

Far above and beyond any other defining characteristics that can be attributed to such an enigmatic person, Greg Clyburn was a family man: a devoted husband to Faye, his wife of 42 years, a beamingly proud father to his two children, Erin, 40, and David, 38, and a brother to Marshall, 72, with whom he had the unique rapport that only loving brothers can possess. Greg exemplified unconditional selflessness, doing anything to ensure his family’s well-being, security, and comfort—always putting them before himself.

Greg leaves behind a well-curated collection of office supplies, a fastidiously maintained quiver of fishing poles and tackle boxes, an extensive collection of 1950s monster movies, seven guitars, four amplifiers, and one family that will love him forever.

Funeral services will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, on Monday, August 4, at 11 a.m.

Click here to link to the funeral home obituary.

It is with heavy hearts that we share the peaceful passing of Gina Durden Kitchens on July 18, 2025, at Brookwood Baptist Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, just shy of her 71st birthday.

Gina was the third of four children born to Bill and Virginia Durden, who raised their family in Covington, Georgia. She graduated from Newton County High School in 1973, and her dedication to learning continued throughout her life, leading her to graduate from Augusta College in 1985 and Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham in 2003.

In 1973, Gina married Skipper Kitchens. Together, they built a life that took them across several states, including Georgia, Virginia, and Florida, before they finally settled in Alabama. Gina’s career was as diverse as her interests; she excelled as an accounting clerk, a special education teacher, and an award-winning interior designer. Her commitment to her community shone brightly through her work as an award-winning PTA Council President for the Augusta-Richmond County School System, and she also served on the Board of Directors at Glenwood, Inc. A woman of strong Christian faith, Gina was especially proud to be a founding member of Grace United Methodist Congregation in Birmingham.

Gina was a wonderful mother who brought immense joy and love to her family and countless friends. She had a passion for sports, especially cheering on the Atlanta Braves and the Georgia Bulldogs. She enjoyed serving with her small group and the Joy Circle at Grace. She cherished her travels, particularly her annual mother-daughter trips with Laura.

Gina is lovingly remembered by her two daughters, Jody Kitchens of Birmingham and Laura Guill (Cameron) of Marietta, Georgia, and her devoted grandson, Xander Guill (Adrianna). She also leaves behind her brother, Lee Durden (Lynn), and her sisters, Delaine Reeder (Bill) and Susan Richey (Bill), along with numerous nieces and nephews whom she adored.

A celebration of life will be held at Caldwell and Cowan Funeral Home in Covington on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 2:00 P.M. Friends may visit with the family one hour prior to the service at the funeral home from 1:00 P.M. until 2:00 P.M. A celebration of Gina’s life will also be scheduled at Grace UMC in Birmingham at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Gina’s memory to Glenwood Inc., an Autism & Behavioral Health Center, at 150 Glenwood Lane, Birmingham, AL 35242, or online at Glenwood.org/donate.

Click here to link to the funeral home obituary.

Robert Francis “Rob” Markham, age 69 of Birmingham, passed away peacefully in his home on July 11, 2025.

He is survived by his wife Nancy; his children Madoline Koonce (Jeff) and Patrick Markham (Elizabeth); his grandchildren Mardie Koonce, Penny Koonce, Anna Worley Markham, and Adrian Markham; his mother Vivian Markham; his brothers Bill Markham Jr., Terry Markham (Elizabeth), Tim Markham (Resa), and Chris Markham (Wendy); and his many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Bill Markham Sr., his nephew William Markham, and his sister-in-law Brenda Markham.

The son of Bill and Vivian Markham, Rob was born May 13, 1956, in Greensboro, North Carolina, and raised in Atlanta. He was a proud 1975 graduate of St. Pius X Catholic High School where he earned the nickname “Bullmoose” on the football team and formed lifelong friendships. He attended Wofford College and the University of Georgia and earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Mercer University.

Rob worked his entire career as a CPA for Southern Company Services, which transferred him and his family from Atlanta to Birmingham in 1992. During his years on the trading floor at the company, he became friends with a group of men known as the “Whiney Boys.” Ever one to bring people together, Rob co-hosted annual gatherings on Smith Lake for Southern Company coworkers and their families.

Rob and Nancy enjoyed spending time at their “cabin” on Smith Lake, nicknamed “Robland” by a friend. There they hosted friends and family for weekends filled with good food and quality time, and Rob especially liked teaching people to water ski and slalom skiing himself. For around 30 years, Rob regularly attended Rock Creek Mission, better known as “boat church,” on Smith Lake, and organized and led their board of directors. Each summer for the past 14 years he and Nancy co-hosted with friends In His Wakes, a ministry that uses water sports to share Christ’s love with at-risk children and adults.

Rarely known to sit down for long, Rob had a strong sense of adventure and was seemingly always active. He loved snow skiing on fresh powder in Utah, Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming (and on two trips helicopter skiing in British Columbia); hiking in national parks and in the mountains of North Carolina; fly fishing in the mountains; and bike riding in Callaway Gardens in Georgia. He played in tennis leagues in Atlanta and Birmingham, and most recently he spent time driving his track car at Barber Motorsports Park.

An avid fan of the University of Georgia football, Rob spent most weekends in the fall attending games and RV tailgating in its highest form with friends at Bulldog Park.

Above all, Rob was generous, always putting others before himself and often serving in ways that no one else knew about. He cared for his family well and loved being a husband, father, and grandfather.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, July 18 at 2 p.m. at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church. The family will receive friends starting at 1 p.m., and a graveside service will be held following the funeral mass at Southern Heritage Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to In His Wakes (inhiswakes.com) or to St. Mark’s mission work in Greene County (checks can be made out to St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church and marked “Greene Co. Rob Markham” and sent to the church at 7340 Cahaba Valley Rd., Birmingham, AL 35242).

Click here to link to the funeral home obituary.