Marianna Bailey Sturdivant

Marianna was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Nancy Bailey of Nashville, TN.

Survivors include Marianna's beloved husband of 58 years, Bob Sturdivant of Hoover; sons, Jim (Susan) Sturdivant of Vestavia Hills, AL and David (Laurie) Sturdivant of Alexander City, AL; daughter, Leanne (Chad) Calhoun of Alexander City; grandchildren, Robert (Brittany) Sturdivant, Adam Sturdivant, Daniel Sturdivant, Thomas Sturdivant, Bailey Sturdivant, Sam Sturdivant, Scott Sturdivant, Brantley Calhoun, and Will Calhoun; adored sister, Martha (Mickey) Ponder of Nashville, TN; nephews, Bentley (J.) Ponder and Brandon (Caitlin) Ponder; and niece, Brooke Ponder.

Marianna attended Peabody College in Nashville and graduated from UAB in Elementary Education. She served as the Director of Preschool at Mountain Chapel United Methodist Church in Vestavia Hills before she devotedly taught kindergarten in Hoover at Green Valley Elementary School, where she retired in 2005. She loved children and considered her school community as family.

Marianna was a talented pianist and organist, and loved music in general. She was an avid reader and enjoyed cooking and baking. She was passionate about her grandchildren and loved supporting them in all of their activities and sports, especially baseball. Marianna’s selfless devotion to those she loved will be forever in the hearts of those who knew her.

Visitation will be Sunday, February 11, 2018 from 3-5 p.m. at Bluff Park United Methodist Church in Birmingham, AL. Funeral will be Monday, February 12, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Bluff Park United Methodist. The Reverends Mike Holly, Reid Crotty and Robert Sturdivant will officiate. Family burial to follow at Alabama National Cemetery, Montevallo.

Memorial gifts may go to: Unless U, serving adults with developmental disabilities through continuing education, at 4521 Amberley Drive, Birmingham, AL 35242 (www.unlessu.org); Children’s Harbor, providing resources for seriously ill children and their families, at 1 Our Children’s Highway, Alexander City, AL 35010 (www.childrensharbor.com); or Bluff Park United Methodist Church Building Fund, 733 Valley Street, Hoover, AL 35226.