Jimmy W. “Smitty” Smith, age 87, passed away on January 12, 2021. He was retired from Alabama Power Company after 43 years of service. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kay Smith. He is survived by his sons, Alan Smith (Kathleen) and Steve Smith (Kelly); his grandchildren, Corey Smith and Summer Smith; and great-grandchildren, Autumn Smith and Brooklyn Smith; sister, Emogene Claybrooks. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 1pm at Jefferson Memorial Gardens in Trussville. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

Judy Benson Sanford, age 77, of Pelham, AL passed away on January 11, 2021. She was born to Commodore and Era Benson on April 21, 1943 in Jemison, AL. Judy graduated from Jemison High School in 1962, and worked for Southern Company for many years.

She enjoyed cooking, crafts, spending time with family, and dedicated her time to many school activities with Andrew while growing up.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Commodore and Era Benson. Judy leaves behind her loving husband of 44 years, Thomas Sanford; son Andrew Neil Sanford, and brother Jerry Benson (Sara).

Visitation will be Saturday, January 16, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 with a chapel service to follow at Southern Heritage Funeral Home. Burial to follow at Southern Heritage Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Riverchase United Methodist Church, 1953 Old Montgomery Hwy, Birmingham, AL 35244, or Rocky Mountain United Methodist Church, 14731 Co Rd 51 Jemison, AL 35085.

Henry Bascom Garrett, Jr., lifelong Birmingham resident, devoted husband, skilled engineer, avid bird watcher and gifted vocalist, passed away on December 28, 2020. He was 95. Left to mourn his passing is Ann Garrett, his wife of 71 years. Preceding him in death are his brother, William Walton Garrett, and sister, Mary Louise Sprouse.

Born April 11, 1925, to Bascom and Josephine Garrett, he attended Phillips High School and was an Eagle Scout. He enrolled in Auburn University in 1943 before being drafted into the service that same year. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war he attended Birmingham Southern College where he sang in the college choir. He transferred to Auburn where he joined Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Most notably, it was at Auburn that he met his bride, Aurora Ann Sharp. Henry and Ann married in the Auburn Methodist Parsonage in December, 1949. The couple moved to Birmingham following Henry’s graduation.

After a stint in the family poultry business, Henry went on to work at Continental Gin and then Chicago Bridge & Iron Company. He later joined Rust Engineering as a Design and Project Engineer, overseeing the installation of manufacturing facilities across the United States and the UK. He later worked as Principal Engineer at Southern Company Services. After retirement, he spent his days working puzzles, traveling, and watching the birds at his feeders. Continue reading →

Bradley McCurry, age 59 of Pelham, passed away on Wednesday, December 9, 2020. Bradley attended Gardendale High School and graduated with an Electrical Engineering degree from UAB; he was a Mensa member and retired from The Southern Company after 39 years of service. He was preceded in death by his mother, Lorene Robbins Stewart; he is survived by his partner of 20 years, Adam Plier; sister, Layne Reid (Terry); Lifelong Friend, Susan Mayfield (Randy); nephew, Adam Reid (Laura); niece Meredith Reid; great-nephews, Josiah and Judah Reid. On Friday, December 18, 2020, Graveside service will be held at Southern Heritage Cemetery beginning at 10 AM with Father Bryan Jerabek officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations are made to a charity of your choice in Bradley’s memory.

John Warren Glover (Warren), 85, passed away at 7:10am on November 29, 2020 in Birmingham, Alabama. Warren was born on June 3, 1935, the only child of a carpenter and a long-time registrar of West End High School. He spent his childhood honing the gifts of service and precision received from his parents, while also developing an appreciation for adventure and laughter. He graduated from West End High School in 1953, where he met his future bride, Mary Ann Lilly. At West End, he developed innumerable life-long friendships through his participation in clubs, civic organizations and sports, receiving numerous awards, including Best Dancer. Warren and Mary Ann were wed in 1956 and began a union which created and nurtured three children and 5 grandchildren.

Warren graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1957 and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the US Army, serving in the Signal Corps stationed in Fort Monmouth, NJ and Fort Gordon, GA. Following discharge, Warren began a 35-year career designing and building power plants for the Southern Company, where he was known not only for his engineering and leadership skills but also for his gregarious and caring nature. Continue reading →