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.

Our next meeting:

Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Location: Colonnade Energy Center Auditorium
3535 Colonnade Parkway
Birmingham, Alabama 35242

Time:
11:00 a.m. to 12 Noon – Board Meeting
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. – General Meeting
2:00 p.m. – Door Prizes and Adjourn

Speaker: David Crawley – PIM Program Manager

David is the PIM Program Manager at Southern Nuclear. He is responsible for the management of the pooled inventory program serving the U.S.
Nuclear Generating Fleet that maintains the equipment needed for Emergency response and coordinates its transportation to affected sites.

David has held this position since January 2017 and serves all the nuclear generating facilities in the U.S. He will be speaking on the SAFER Program that is a national program developed to enhance the nuclear industry’s ability to respond to severe external events at nuclear power plants.

Hope to see you there!

Just posted the Jul. – Aug. 2025 newsletter Volume 37 Issue 4.

Click here to view the latest list of newsletters.

William Bryant Frye, 77, passed away on May 8, 2025. Born in Hamilton, Alabama, on December 12, 1947, Bryant was raised and spent most of his life in Birmingham. He attended the University of Alabama where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering. In 1970, he married Linda Crumley; together they lovingly raised a daughter, Elizabeth. A proud engineer and project manager, Bryant retired from Southern Company Services after forty-two years. He was a longtime member of Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Birmingham. His later years were spent in Austin, Texas, where he enjoyed time with his family, dogs, neighbors, and tai chi group.

Preceded in death by his parents, James Turner Frye and Fleeta Mae Frye (Shotts), and his brother, James Gary Frye, Bryant is survived by his wife, Linda Crumley Frye, daughter, Elizabeth Bradford Frye, and son-in-law, Coleman James Hutchison.

Bryant was a great friend to many and was widely known for his generosity, warmth, and good humor. He will be fondly remembered and deeply missed.

A memorial service will be held in the fall of 2025. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society.

Click here to link to the funeral home obituary.