Geraldine "Jerry" Waller

Jerry was born on December 17, 1929 to the late Albert Henry and Maude Couch Williams in Alexandria, Alabama. A 1948 graduate of Anniston High School, she began working as a switchboard operator for the Bell System while still in high school.

In February 1954, she met the love of her life, Jacob Winfield Waller, III, who was making repairs at the office where she worked. They were married in October of that year, and were blessed with forty-seven years together. After the birth of their children, Jerry left the switchboard behind and was devoted to being a mother and homemaker. When Jake retired in 1987, she became the navigator as they traveled in their RV to Alabama football games, golf tournaments, almost every state in the US (including Alaska), and portions of Canada. By this time grandchildren started coming, and they became her delight and joy, especially when they traveled with Memaw and Grandaddy in the RV.

Jerry was a member of Shades Mountain Baptist Church and the Faith Sunday School Class. At Shades she helped with Vacation Bible School, Power Lunch, and sang with the Jubilee Senior Choir. For eleven years Jerry served as a volunteer at St. Vincent’s Hospital. She was also a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America and the Heart of Dixie Bells Camping Group.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jake, and her grandson, Austin Waller. She is survived by her daughter Rita Henry (Mark) of Auburn, AL, her son Richard Waller (Barbara) of Vincent, AL, her grandsons Mason Waller and Logan Waller of Vincent, AL, her granddaughter Cristina Waller of Vincent, AL, great-granddaughters Jemma Waller and Ellie Waller, and her sister Betty Tinney (James) of Glen Alpine, NC, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

The service to celebrate Jerry’s life will be held at Johns-Ridout’s Elmwood Chapel in Birmingham, AL on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 1:00 pm. Visitation with the family will be from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm before the service on Wednesday.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Samaritan’s Purse. https://www.samaritanspurse.org/memorial-page/geraldine-jerry-waller-birmingham-al/