Josephine Meagher Lee Whigham

Josephine Meagher Lee Whigham passed away on April 2, 2026, after a courageous battle with brain cancer. Meagher was born April 1, 1966, in Birmingham, Alabama, the daughter of Alonzo “Lonnie” Hester Lee, Jr. and Ann Chapman Cox.

Meagher was a loving and loyal wife, mother, daughter, aunt, sister, sister-in-law, and friend. She was a graduate of Mountain Brook High School, earned a Bachelor of Arts from Hollins College, and a Master’s in Special Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. After first teaching special education in Leeds, Alabama, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she continued teaching children with learning disabilities at the Atlanta Speech School and the Howard School. She later opened her own “school” in her home, teaching children who had slipped through the cracks of a traditional classroom setting.

After being set up by a dear friend with Robert “Wagon” Elmore Whigham III, with whom she immediately fell in love, she married and moved to Mobile. They had three children, who were the center of her world, and even in her illness, she courageously showed up for their lives, attending as many of their events and milestones as she possibly could.

Once her children were in grade school, she returned to her beloved work in special education as a Pre-K and 4th grade teacher at their school, St. Paul’s Episcopal School, where she could do what she loved and remain close to them. Meagher’s passion for those with disabilities continued as she served for many years on the Board of the Mulherin Custodial Home, a place she loved dearly and where her brother resides.

Meagher was a founding member of Covenant Presbyterian Church of Mobile and loved serving others through its ministries. Even through her cancer journey, she faithfully served at Crichton Table, providing meals to those in the Crichton community. She truly lived as the hands and feet of Jesus, serving and loving others. She was a faithful disciple who spent time reading and studying the Bible, enjoying daily devotionals and sharing them with others—an inspiring example to many.

Meagher was also playful, had a quick wit and wonderful sense of humor. She was creative and loved arts and crafts, praise music, country music, Jeopardy, Camp Merrie-Woode, traveling, Dauphin Island, the theater, and spending quality time with her family and friends. Throughout her life and illness, she remained steadfast in her faith and hope in Christ and in the promise of eternal life.

Meagher is survived by her husband; her children, Allie Josephine Whigham, Ann Backes Whigham, and Robert Elmore Whigham IV; her sisters, Kimberly Bean (Nelson), Lucie Haynes (Brad), and Helen Hyde (Cabot); her brother, Chapman Lee; her aunt, Mary Nina Marriott; her sister-in-law, Angela Bell (John); and her nieces and nephews, Elizabeth Ryan (Will), Nelson Bean, Jr. (Ali), Chapman Bean (Marguerite), Bradley Haynes, Ann Chapman Haynes, Corley Haynes, McKee Haynes, Carter Hyde, Cabot Hyde, Mary Lee Hyde, Reece Bell (Jill), Lilly Lyons (Tift), and Bowen Bell, as well as two great-nieces and five great-nephews. Meagher was predeceased by her parents and her in-laws, Ann Backes Whigham and Robert E. Whigham, Jr.

The family will receive visitors at Covenant Presbyterian Church (2651 Spring Hill Avenue, Mobile, Alabama 36607) from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on April 10, followed by a memorial service at 12 p.m. The graveside service will follow at Magnolia Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mulherin Custodial Home (2496 Halls Mill Road, Mobile, Alabama 36606), Covenant Presbyterian Church, or a charity of your choice. Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com.