Sally Annette Fondren

Sally “Nani” Annette Fondren, age 70, of Birmingham, Alabama, passed away peacefully on September 26, 2026. She was born on September 2, 1956, in Birmingham, where she was raised and spent her life surrounded by the people and places she loved.

Sally was a woman whose life was deeply rooted in her faith and her love for Jesus Christ. She was faithful in her walk with the Lord and never missed an opportunity to talk about Jesus or share His love with others. She was an excellent teacher of the Word, and her knowledge of Scripture, genuine faith, and love for people touched countless lives.

Sally was, in every sense, the definition of a Proverbs 31 woman. She was loving, patient, forgiving, generous, honest, and devoted to her family. She loved everyone and had a way of making people feel loved and accepted.

She found joy in the simple and beautiful things of life. Sally loved sewing, reading, cooking, camping and making her home a beautiful and welcoming place. One of her most treasured traditions was preparing a beautiful candlelight Christmas Eve dinner for her family. Those gatherings were about much more than a meal, they were about family, love, memories, and the warmth of a home created by someone who cherished the people around her.

Sally was an active part of her church family at Celebration Church of Hoover, Alabama, and was also involved with the Christian Motorcyclists Association. Her faith was not simply something she believed; it was something she lived and shared.

Her favorite Scripture was James 1:2–4, a passage she quoted often: “Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trails, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Those words reflected the strength and faith with which she lived her life.

Sally had a way of finding hope even on difficult days. Whenever she wasn't feeling well, she would simply say, “That’s okay, I’ll feel better tomorrow.” And to the people she loved, she had a special way of reminding them just how precious they were to her. One of her most treasured sayings was, “I’m so glad you’re mine.” Those words will remain in the hearts of her family and loved ones, who knew just how deeply she meant them.

Sally is survived by her loving husband, Ken Fondren; her three children, Angi (Mark) Jones, Adam (Pam) Fondren, and Andy (Linda) Fondren; her brother, Lindsey Howell; her grandchildren, Sarah (Jacob), Savannah, Grayson, Madi, Madeline (Danny), Lexi (Lance), Jonathan (Mallory), Willow, Eli, Lizzie, Ella, Colton, Alana (Daxton), and Aspen (Riley); and her great-grandchildren, Hunter, JD, James, Ellie, Stetson, Stella, Eden, and Hadleigh.

To her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Sally was lovingly known as “Nani,” a name that represented the special love and bond she shared with each of them. She also leaves behind many other family members and friends whom she loved deeply and embraced as her own, always making them feel like an important part of her life.

Sally was preceded in death by her parents, Wallace G. Howell Jr. and Hannah Howell; her brother, Edward Howell; and her beloved grandparents, Wallace G. Howell Sr. “Gangy”, Alice Parker Howell “Nana”, Prudence Henderson and William “Pop” Henderson.

Funeral services for Sally Annette Fondren will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, Alabama. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m., with the funeral service beginning at 3 p.m. Graveside services to follow at Southern Heritage Cemetery, Pelham.

Sally leaves behind a legacy of faith, love, family, generosity, and devotion to Jesus. Her life was a testimony to the beauty of loving others well, standing firm in faith, and creating a home where people knew they were loved.

She will be deeply missed, but her family finds comfort in knowing that the faith she lived so faithfully is now sight, and that she is with the Jesus she loved so much.

“I’m so glad you’re mine.”

And Nani, we are so glad you were ours.