By Staff
May 18, 2008
Funeral for Gladys McCormick Christian, 89, of Neel was Wednesday, May 21, 2008, at 2 p.m. at Walden Chapel Baptist Church with the Revs. Don Crumpton, Fred Green and Stanley Linderman officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.
Burial was in Johnson Chapel Cemetery.
Mrs. Christian died Wednesday, May 18, 2008, at her residence. She was born Sept. 11, 1918, in Lawrence County as the eldest child of Claude Edward McCormick and Elsie Moore McCormick. In 1937, her father bought a farm at Neel. He later died and much of the farm work became her responsibility.
As a young adult, Mrs. Christian was employed at Alabama Hosiery Mill in Decatur. She married William Grady Christian Oct. 23, 1948. They made their home in the Liberty Community for several years until they returned to her old home place at Neel, where she resided until her death.
As a small child she walked over a mile to the old Johnson Chapel School but wasn’t able to finish. She returned to the classroom when she was in her 40s and received her diploma. She was a substitute teacher at the old Neel School.
Mrs. Christian was the oldest surviving member of Walden Chapel Baptist Church, just as her husband was at the time of his death. She was a faithful member for almost 60 years. She taught youth classes, worked in vacation Bible school and visited the sick.
She was the heartbeat of her home, adored by her husband, loved and respected by her children and admired by her grandchildren. She was known for her cooking skills, especially her desserts. She was preceded in death by her husband of over 55 years, William Grady Christian; a sister, Estelle Roberts and husband Allie; a brother, W. Truitt McCormick; and a nephew, John Wayne Franklin.
She is survived by a son, David Christian; a daughter, Joyce Christian Walker and husband Buddy of Neel; two granddaughters, Kelly Walker Holladay of Neel and Kim Walker Young and husband Michael of Mt. Olive; four great-grandsons, Christian Holladay and Carson Holladay, both of Neel and Walker Young and Peyton Young, both of Mt. Olive; a sister, Hazel Parker of Hartselle; a sister-in-law, Betty McCormick of Hartselle; a number of nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
Pallbearers were Delane McCormick, Ronald “Bubba” McCormick, Trenton Reynolds, Pat Lane, Michael Young and Herchel Clemons.
Honorary pallbearers were Clinton Simmons, J.W. Franklin, Windle Holbert
The family thanks Dr, Dinesh Gandhi, Ann, Sandra and the Hartselle Medical Center staff for the care they gave both their mother and father for more than 25 years. Thanks also to Gail, her Alacare nurse.