Charlotte Otelia Higginbotham

Charlotte Otelia Ashley Higginbotham , age 91, of Gadsden, went to be with her Lord and Savior on July 29, 2011. Funeral services will be at Collier-Butler Chapel on August 1, 2011 at 2:00 PM. The Revs. Jack Campbell and Vince Whittington will officiate. Burial will be in Crestwood Cemetery.

Mrs. Higginbotham was born April 4, 1920, in the Turkeytown community of Etowah Co. where she resided most of her life. She was the daughter of the late Frank Aaron and Vera (Cochran) Ashley. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Higginbotham was preceded in death by Stewart Higginbotham, three brothers; infant Garvin Quincy Ashley, Frank Aaron Ashley, Jr., James Rayford “Ray” Ashley, and two sisters; Ester Kate Bryan and Dorothy Willingham. Mrs. Higginbotham was a lifelong member of Macedonia Baptist Church. She was a graduate of Gaston High School, class of 1938, and a graduate of Alabama School of Trades, receiving her license in Practical Nursing in 1965. She was a charter member of Northeast Etowah Senior Outreach Services. She worked at Goodyear Tire & Rubber in Gadsden for two years before she stopped work to marry and raise a family. She and her husband, Stewart J. Higginbotham, owned and operated a commercial poultry farm for many years. After working a short time at Cherokee Co. Hospital, Centre, she was employed at Baptist Memorial Hospital (Gadsden Regional Medical Center) for 16 years, retiring in 1982. After her retirement, she worked several more years for home health agencies in Etowah County. Mrs. Higginbotham delighted in her grandchildren and great grandchildren and was a wonderful cook and gardener, especially enjoying growing flowers.

She is survived by sons; Alan (Marsha) Higginbotham of Austin, TX and Phillip (Tammy) Higginbotham of Chattanooga, TN; daughter, Nancy (Gayron) Davis of Opelika, AL; grandsons, Matthew (Chelsea) Higginbotham and Patrick (Bethany) Davis ; granddaughters, Kimberly (Rob) Koenig, Pamela (Paxton) Kelso, Melody (Daniel) Noles, Holly (Bryan) Word, Jennifer (Philip) Uland, Emily (James) Fenn; great grandchildren, Emmaleigh Grace, Eli and Sarah Noles, Davis Word, Cecilia and Vivian Koenig, Grayer Kelso and Levi Fenn; brother, Hayden C. Ashley; sister-in-law, Louise Ashley, several nieces and nephews and special friends.

Her grandsons and husbands of her granddaughters will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are the deacons of Macedonia Baptist Church.

The family will receive friends on Sunday evening July 31, 2011, 6 to 8 pm at Collier-Butler Funeral Home, Gadsden.

Online condolences may be made at www.collier-butler.com.