E. Adelle Lee Tunnell, born July 13, 1944 in Pine Bluff, Ark., a resident of Bay Minette for the past 38 years, died Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010 in Bay Minette.
She was a graduate of Sarepta High School in Sarepta, La., and earned her B.A. from Northwestern State University of Natchitoches, LA and M.S. of education from Auburn University. She started her career in Pine Bluff, Ark., at BelAir Middle School in 1966. She taught in Barbour and Butler counties prior to teaching at Robertsdale and Baldwin County High Schools. After working from 1985 to 1991 as the supervisor of English for the Baldwin County Board of Education, she served as the first principal of Bay Minette Intermediate School from 1991 until her retirement in 2000 with 27 years of service in Baldwin County.
She was an active member of First Baptist Church of Bay Minette where she was a member of the Sanctuary and Handbell Choirs, a Sunday School teacher and served on numerous committees. She volunteered in the music library at FBC and was a member of Mignon Music Club.
She was a devoted wife and mother, and a dear sister and friend. Her kind and loving spirit touched many through her teaching and through opening her heart and home to the people she loved. She will be missed by all who had the joy of knowing her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Andrew Edwin and A.E. “Jo” Lee; and brother-in-law, Bill Allbritton.
Survivors include her husband of 41 years, Ed Tunnell; two children Matthew Tunnell and Leigh Tunnell (Larry) Gunn; two grandsons, Lucas and Lawson Gunn; sister, Beverly Allbritton; nephew, David Allbritton, and niece, Chanetta Allbritton (Steven) Case; and grand niece, Roxanne Case Bates; numerous nieces and nephews by marriage.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19 at Bay Minette First Baptist Church. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20 at the church. Burial will follow at Bay Minette Cemetery.
The family requests memorial donations be made to Bay Minette First Baptist Church Building Fund, 1201 Hand Ave., Bay Minette, AL 36507.
Arrangements are by Mack Funeral Home & Crematory Inc., Robertsdale.
