Joe "Papa Joe" Douglas Southern

TUSCALOOSA | Joe Douglas Southern, age 72, of Tuscaloosa, died October 10, 2014. Services will be 3 p.m. Sunday, October 12, 2014, at Heritage Chapel Funeral Home with Larry Corder, Colby Mouchette and Keith Pugh officiating. Burial will follow Tuscaloosa Memorial Park with Heritage Chapel Funeral Home & Cremations, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. Visitation will be Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the funeral home.

He was preceded in death by his father, Fred Southern; mother, Edna Southern; and daughter, Stephanie Jane Southern.

Survivors include his wife, Linda Southern of Tuscaloosa; daughter, Joanna Guilbault (Paul) of Mandeville, La.; son, Doug Southern (Candy) of Northport; sisters, Sonja Berry (Wayne) of Haleyville and Sheila Clark (Don) of Northport; brother, Kermitt Southern (Patsy) of Hoover; sisters-in-law, Gloria Teeple (Jim) of Freeport, Fla. and Jane Harris (Don) of Orangeburg, S.C.; grandchildren, Zachary Southern and Brody Southern of Tuscaloosa, Matthew Guilbault, Evan Guilbault and Reid Guilbault of Mandeville, La., and two bonus grandsons, Jake Spiller and Zac Spiller of Northport.

Joe was born in Gadsden, Alabama on September 5, 1942. He grew up in Haleyville, Alabama. He graduated from Haleyville High School and attended Shelton State and the University of Alabama. He served in the United States Air Force from 1961 to 1965. He married the Iove of his life Linda on April 6, 1965. They moved to Tuscaloosa shortly after. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service and retired as postmaster of McCalla, Alabama in October of 2004. He served as a Deacon of Alberta Baptist Church, sang in the choir, served on various committees and worked tirelessly assisting in tornado cleanup efforts after the April 11, 2011 disaster.Joe Ioved sports and watching Alabama football with his family and friends. He enjoyed umpiring softball for many years in the adult softball Ieagues in the surrounding area. After retirement Joe and Linda enjoyed traveling, spending as much time as they could with the grandchildren and family vacations. Joe Ioved working in his yard and garden and was honored to receive ''Yard of the month'' recognition several timesJoe and Linda both served as volunteers at DCH Regional Medical Center. He Ioved his family, church, friends, and his Bible Study Life Group. He will be greatly missed and will forever remain in our hearts.

Pallbearers will be Dave Kitchens, John Matthews, Bart Tingle, Joey Hocutt, Ethan Blakenship and Jerry Johnston.

Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Steve Lovelady, members of the ACTS 29 Sunday School Class, volunteers of DCH Regional Medical Center, members of Alberta Baptist Church, and nursing staff of MICU DCH Regional Medical Center.In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Alberta Baptist Church, 2210 University Blvd. East, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 in memory of Joe "Papa Joe" Southern. Condolences may be offered at www.heritagechapeltuscaloosa.com -