Melba "Gayle" White Ferrill

Melba “Gayle” White FerriII was born on May 9, 1934 to Melba and Lester White. As an only child, she grew up in the small town of Union, Mississippi where her grandmother owned the only hotel and her daddy owned the local hardware store. In elementary school she met "Jimmy" FerriII, but it wasn't until they had both graduated from Union High School that their romance developed.

Gayle attended Blue Mountain College and graduated from Peabody School of Music in Nashville, Tennessee. She and Jim wed on June 15, 1956 at their home church of First Baptist Church of Union and recently celebrated 66 years of marriage. Their first home together was in Mobile, Alabama.

Gayle taught school until she became a mother and then taught piano lessons in hers and Jim’s home. When their children were older she worked in various office settings.

Gayle and Jim’s family was very involved in ministry at Spring Hill Baptist Church in Mobile, where she served as pianist and organist for over 40 years. The family still fondly remembers being welcomed home from church by the mouthwatering smell of Nanny's Pot Roast cooking in the oven. Gayle and Jim enjoyed many opportunities of travel across our beautiful country.

In 2002, Gayle and Jim chose to move to the Birmingham, Alabama area to be nearer to their children and grandchildren and "to live in a place where the leaves changed with the seasons." While in Birmingham, she enjoyed teaching Sunday school and being involved in the music ministry of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Homewood.

At the age of 88, after a short stay in the hospital, Gayle passed from this life on the morning of July 22, 2022 and into the presence of her Saviour. She was preceded in death by both of her parents, a newborn son named Todd Mark FerriII, and a four-month-old great-grandson, Ethan Michael FerriII.

Gayle is survived by her husband, James Paul "Jim" FerriII, Sr.; along with their three children, Paul (Sandy) FerriII of Chelsea, Alabama, Jill (Troy) Howard of Birmingham, and Rob (Laine) FerriII of Oneonta, Alabama. Her 28 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren affectionately knew her as "Nanny."

Gayle’s servant heart and her welcoming smile will be missed by her friends and family, but there is great comfort in knowing she is worshipping at the feet of Jesus, ready to welcome the rest of us home.

Thank you, Nanny, for your legacy.

The family will greet friends from 10-11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Homewood, followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Dawson Memorial Baptist Church.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at Gayle's memorial page at www.SouthernHeritageFunerals.com for the Ferrill family.