Venaro Lee Kendrick

Venaro Lee Kendrick of Tuscaloosa, AL, age 89, passed away peacefully on May 15, 2025, at Hospice of West Alabama. The Reverend Jimmy Garner and the Reverend Quanah Spence will preside over the 1:00 pm service on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at Memory Chapel Funeral Home. A brief graveside service will follow – weather permitting.

Preceded in death by her husband David Kendrick; her parents, George Jefferson Lee and Mazie Bradford Lee; brothers, Johnny Lee, Thomas Lowell Lee and Charles Lee.

Survived by her son, David D. Kendrick (Jan); granddaughter, Morgan Lee Kendrick; brothers, George Douglas Lee of Navarre, FL, James Lee of Repton, AL; a sister, Sara Lee Plunkett of Arab, AL; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Venaro was born in Repton, AL (in the Baggett Community) in 1935, the oldest of 7 children. She attended elementary school in Bellville, AL for 5 years walking a mile to board the school bus with her cousins. She graduated from Repton High School and attended the University of Alabama. She worked for Vanity Fair Mills in Monroeville, AL, and then worked for GMAC Finance, General Electric Finance in Mobile, AL, for several years as a bookkeeper. After leaving General Electric, she worked as a secretary for Brookley Air Force Base where she was introduced to her future husband by his sister. She and her husband moved from Mobile to Panama City, FL, where they lived for 57 years. Venaro was a devoted wife and mother who loved the Lord. She loved to serve others whether it was preparing a meal, caring for the sick, or taking them to medical appointments. In later years, she and her husband moved to Tuscaloosa to be near their son and his family. She attended Rosedale Baptist Church until her health no longer permitted.

Pallbears will be Guy Coghlan, Wade Ramsey, Keon Little, John Yow, Jason McDuffie, Phillip Kinard, Richard Coogan, III, Robert Rabon, Danny Patrick and Tim Oliver.

Honorary pallbearers are Sharon Wilson, Peggy Adams, Doug & Martha Dyer, neighbors of Ashland Place – Panama City, Cindy Hutchinson, Bill Owings, Gayle Merrell, members of Rosedale Baptist Church, Dr. Brian Wilhite & staff, Dr. David Hinton, Dr. John Crew & DCH Cancer Center staff, Dr. John Duffy and Dr. David Rosenstiel, special caregivers: Chris Killian, Susan Hutchins, Sophia Benson, Carolyn Frierson, Shirley Gray, Johanna Martinez, & Kenya Fisher.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Rosedale Baptist Church, or Hospice of West Alabama.