Anthony Brian Pennington

Anthony Brian (“Tony”) Pennington of Oxford, Alabama passed away suddenly early on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026. He was 2 days shy of his 60th birthday. He leaves behind many friends and family members who loved him dearly, and many co-workers who respected him greatly.

Born on April 7, 1966 to Aulton Buster (“A.B.) and Patsy Jones Pennington in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Tony and his family moved to the Bynum area in 1974. He graduated from Bynum Elementary and from Wellborn High School, then followed in his father and older brother Steve’s footsteps to begin a career with the Department of the Army at Anniston Army Depot. Tony was a beloved member of the Depot family, leading several shops and teams there during his career. He retired from the Depot in 2022 after over 31 years of service.

Tony loved riding motorcycles, collecting sports and celebrity memorabilia and autographs, collecting classic toys, following NASCAR, and souping up classic Buick Regals with nitrous oxide boosters and such. But most of all he loved his children, Anthony Blake Pennington and Andrew Brian Pennington, both of whom survive him. They were born to Tony and his former wife Kelly, with whom he continued to maintain close contact and a deep friendship all his life. Tony also remained friends with his first wife Sondra all his life.

To his great credit, Tony was a primary caregiver to his mother Patsy Pennington during the last 20 years of her long life. He moved in with her, helped her as she aged in countless ways, and soon acquired her outstanding cooking skills. So much so that he was often asked to cater parties and gatherings at the Depot and elsewhere in the Bynum and Oxford area. Tony loved to cook and loved it when people liked his cooking.

Tony was also a big believer in donating blood for the benefit of others. He donated approximately 250 units of platelets during his lifetime.

Tony is survived by his son Blake and daughter-in-law Elizabeth, his son Brian, his brother Michael R. Pennington, his brother Steven W. Pennington and sister-in-law Tina Pennington, his stepsister Shelley Pugh, his stepbrother Shayne Saccal (and wife Ginger), his stepmother Sandra Braxton Pennington, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, his dog Maggie, and his cats Front Yard and Back Yard. The dog and cats will be taken in by his brothers. The aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews are on their own!

Tony was preceded in death by his father A.B. Pennington, his mother Patsy Jones Pennington, his beloved grandparents Allie and “Papa Bill” Small and “Tank” and Daisy Jones, his sister-in-law Peyton Pennington, and several of his beloved aunts and uncles and cousins.

A funeral service for Tony will be held at Chapel Hill Funeral Home in Anniston on April 8, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. Visitation with the family will be immediately prior to the funeral from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Burial and will be next to his mother at Upper Mill Creek Primitive Baptist Church in Hopeulikit, Georgia.

Pallbearers in Hopeulikit will be Mike Pennington, Steve Pennington, Johnny Jones, Chandler Sheffield, Shane Sheffield, Dustin Jones, and Dillon Nesmith. Flowers are welcome but so are donations to Cheaha Regional Humane Society or the American Kidney Fund.