Willodean Neely Townsend, 90, of Jasper, died peacefully on Oct. 9, 2019, at her home surrounded by her family.
Family will be receiving friends on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m., at Kilgore-Green Funeral Home. Service will follow at 12 p.m., in the Kilgore-Green Chapel, burial at Oak Hill Cemetery. Alan Beasley and Tex Ergle will officiate.
Dean was born on March 10, 1929, the oldest of 9 children to the late Zenia Mell and Rex Ansley Neely. She met her husband while attending Vina High School and at the age of 18 she married the love of her life, James Townsend. They would spend the next 72 years together leaving their family a beautiful picture of Love and commitment. Of all the things she loved there were 2 that stood out above all others: her love for Christ and her church, and her love for family. She was a charter member of Midfield United Methodist Church and served there faithfully until her move to Jasper in 1984. After moving to Jasper she became a member of Jasper First United Methodist Church. She served in many capacities in her church homes but held a special love for the United Methodist Women. Her love for family was paramount throughout her life and nothing made her as happy as being surrounded by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and extended family. Her favorite name was Nana and she could always be counted on for a game of cards, a board game, a song, biscuits and chocolate syrup, a hug and a kiss or a rock in her lap if you needed one. She had a passion for flowers and gardening and much of her life was a spent outdoors in her yard. While indoors she loved spending time in her kitchen as a self-taught chef extraordinaire. She was a loyal bank employee of Birmingham Trust National Bank and SouthTrust Bank in Birmingham and in Jasper, Ala.
Dean had a servants heart- for her family, her friends, her church and her community. She volunteered faithfully in her church and with the Salvation Army. Her family wishes to extend their sincere and heartfelt thanks to Mona Browder, Verliera Johnson, Sherrie Otwell and Comfort Care Hospice who so lovingly cared for our wife and mother.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Rex Ansley and Mell Zenia Gentry Neely; brothers, Owen Henry Neely, Johnny Milen Neely and Donald Lee Neely; and sister, Sara Annette Neely.
She is survived by her loving husband, James L. Townsend; children, Lynne Whittington of Hoover, Tamara Matthews (Joe) of Jasper and Terri Walls (David) of Hoover; grandchildren, Patrick Whittington, Lindsay Whittington (Josh), Amy Dill (Nick), Darcy Mosley (Taylor), Christian Matthews, Eli Matthews, Katie Stripling (Brad) and Allie McDuff (Brian); great grandchildren, Hallie Lindsay; Jackson and Joshua Daniel; Carrly, Wyatt and Mack Dill, Oliver, Amelia and Abe Mosley, Neely and Bennett Stripling; and Tucker, Max and Miller McDuff; and siblings, Earlene Emerson, Edward Neely (Bobbie), Rexford Neely (Ann) and Larry Neely (Diane) and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
Pallbearers are Christian Matthews, Eli Matthews, Nick Dill, Taylor Mosley, Patrick Whittington, Josh Bethea, Brad Stripling and Brian McDuff
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Jasper First United Methodist Church.
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