Jerry "Randy" Bagwell

Jerry Randall (Randy) Bagwell, age 60, passed on to eternity on Monday, February 26, 2018, at home, surrounded by loved ones. Funeral services will be at Gray Brown-Service Mortuary, 1329 Wilmer Avenue, Anniston, AL 36201 on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 2:00 P.M. Visitation will be at Gray Brown beginning at noon before the service. Pastors officiating are Keith Merritt, Jeff and April Ponder-Twardy. Burial will be at Maple Grove Cemetery, 4000 US 431, Anniston, AL 36206.

Randy Bagwell was a strong, smart man who could do just about anything that he set his mind to. He would seem to lock his knees down and just push on until his task was complete. He taught himself to weld during lunch breaks while on the oil rig off the coast of Louisiana. When the senior welder caught him using his equipment, he offered to teach Randy and he became a master welder which served him well for the rest of his working life. He ended his career as an aerodynamic welder at General Dynamics Ordinance and Tactical in Golden Springs, Alabama when he became ill with mesothelioma cancer.

He fought a good fight against the disease for almost 3 years. He received excellent care from his nurse Christi McGatha and other caregivers of New Beacon Hospice Care as well as a number of physicians in Anniston and in Houston, Texas.

Randy owned his own business, Bagwell Metalworks where he devised, built and installed steel cages around air conditioning units to serve as deterrents against theft. He enjoyed this work. He had a strong work ethic because of his father Jerry who had taught his brother Joey and him to do all sorts of labor in their youth.

He is preceded in death by his father, Jerry Martin Bagwell.

He was born in Ragland, AL where he played football in high school. He attended Gadsden State Junior College where he obtained his pilot’s license. He had hoped to use that in his career but did not get to. He has worked and lived in Louisiana, South Carolina and North Carolina before returning home to Alabama.

Randy was married to Tawanah Fagan who he met on the internet. He knew when he saw her coming towards him that he would marry her. She knew she would marry him on that first date when he ordered her an appetizer and later a dessert! He was so earnest and kind to her that she just couldn’t resist him. He spent the next 10 years doing his best to give her everything that she needed and most of what she wanted. He became a part of her family and was loved by everyone in the family. He was good friends with her brother Pat Fagan and he loved and cared for her sister Ann Ponder.

He had one son, Jerrod Bagwell who blessed him with 3 lovely children, Tara Smith (step-child), Aubrey whom he called AJ, and Bear Bagwell. He loved those children and their mother Jennifer whom he called Peaches. He leaves behind his beautiful mother Johnnie Bagwell, sister Rondalyn Baker, and brother Joey Bagwell and their families. He enjoyed visits with them and they provided a lot of love and assistance during his long illness.

He was a member of the Weaver Congregational Methodist Church where he served as the grill master at the annual Easter Celebrations. He loved his church and was generous in his giving.