Myrtle Lee Bains Trammell

Myrt was born on July 17, 1944, in Bessemer, Alabama, to Lee Edmundson Bains and Ruel Burton Bains, who predeceased her. Myrt was also predeceased by her older sister, Anita Bains Hardegree, and her brother-in-law, Henry B. Hardegree.

Myrt is survived by her only child, Dr. Dale Edward ("Tram") Trammell, Jr. (Patra) of Mountain Brook; her grandchildren, Pearson Trammell and Langley Trammell; her son's father, Dr. Dale Edward Trammell, Sr., of Decatur; her brother, Lee Edmundson Bains, Jr. (Kay); nephews and niece, Henry B. Hardegree, Jr., Richard B. Hardegree (Julie), Laura Lee Hardegree Davis (Ken), Lee E. Bains III (Dawn), John R. Bains (Kelly), and several great-nephews and great-nieces.

After attending the Bessemer city schools in her early years, Myrt spent her high school years at Brooke Hill Preparatory School in Birmingham. She graduated from the University of Georgia where she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority.

After college, she began course work at UAB for a master's degree in social work. She continued a rewarding career as a social worker for several years in Decatur, working with special needs children, abused and battered women, and other families with desperate needs. During this time, Myrt was an active member of the Junior League of Morgan County. She helped to launch the Junior League's "Cotton Country Cooking" cookbook in 1972.

What followed was a spiritual journey that led her to Nashville, Tennessee, where she studied at the Vanderbilt Divinity School, and then to California, where she graduated with a master's degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Los Angeles. While in California, Myrt hosted a televised Christian talk program, "The Tent of Testimony".

After settling in Gulf Shores in the early 1990s, Myrt used her seminary experience for rewarding involvement in her church. She returned to her roots in the Methodist church when joining the Gulf Shores United

Methodist Church where she enjoyed the spiritual support and camaraderie of a large church family.

The narrative of the facts of Myrt's life hardly reflects her joyful spirit. She was deeply grounded with a humble Christian faith, and the love she had for her family and friends was tangible. Her enthusiasm and love of life never faltered. Even in the depths of ill health, she always kept her contagious positive attitude. Her animated story telling of past generations of the Bains family will live on, delighting and connecting generations to come.

There will be visitation at John Ridout's Valley Chapel in Homewood on Saturday, January 30th, at noon followed by a graveside service at Elmwood Cemetery. Masks and social distancing will be necessary. A memorial service will be scheduled in Gulf Shores at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Gulf Shores United Methodist Church in her honor.