Almarene Wright Champion

Almarene Champion, age 85, passed away on June 21, 2023 in Birmingham, AL. Born in Malone, Alabama on June 7, 1938 to Alice Estelle Wright (Wood) and Ellis LaFayette Demus Wright, Almarene graduated from LaFayette High School and later attended Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL.

Almarene worked for the Social Security Administration and volunteered as a trained Crisis Center Counselor. She also supported her husband Rev. Gerald A. Champion throughout his career serving 17 Methodist Churches and finally the Gadsden District Superintendency of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Almarene is survived by her three children, Gerald A. Champion Jr., Kenneth A. Champion, and Janet Champion Sapp (Bill), her son-in-law William (Bill) Sapp, and two grandchildren, William Heath Sapp (Emily) and Bradley Austin Sapp. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Clarence Preston Wright (Willia), sister Kathlene Lemerle Smith Wright (Frank), and sister Elma Ruth Mezick Wright (Paul).

Almarene worshipped at both Methodist and Catholic churches, including OLS in Homewood with her son.

Friends are cordially invited to the visitation on Friday, the 23rd of June, from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Ridout's Valley Chapel in Homewood. Funeral services will commence at 7:00 p.m. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, the 24th of June, at Rosemere Cemetery in Opelika, Alabama. Services are under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel (205-879-3401) located at 1800 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, Alabama 35209.

"Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restored our life."