ROBERTSDALE, Alabama -- Family and friends are mourning the loss of former Robertsdale City Council member Karla Fields. A native of Fayette, Fields died in the early morning hours Wednesday, May 22. She was 54.

A graduate of Robertsdale High School, she earned a bachelor of science degree from Troy State University majoring in accounting and computer science and attended Faulkner State Junior College.

She was elected to serve on the Robertsdale City Council in 1988 and was re-elected in 1992. She chose not to run for a third term in 1996.

“It is truly regrettable to learn of her passing and her family is in our hearts and prayers during this time,” said Mayor Charles Murphy. “I was fortunate to serve with her on the council for eight years and she had a definite vision for improvements to the city.”

Council members Brent Kendrick and Joe Kitchens also served with Fields on the Council from 1988 to 1996.

“She was just a good person to work with,” Kendrick said. “She will be truly missed in this community.”

Kitchens remembered Fields as someone who was knowledgeable and passionate about serving her community.

“I always found her to be extremely smart and very good when it came to handling money,” Kitchens said. “She was always looking to do what was best for the people of Robertsdale.”

According to an article published in July 1992 announcing her bid for re-election, Fields served as an audit manager for a local CPA, specializing in municipal, federal, public utilities, hospital and other governmental entity accounting and auditing.

Before that she served for four years as a comptroller for Baldwin County and was a staff accountant at Troy State University for four years. She retired in 2000.

She was awarded the U.S. Senator James B. Allen Leadership Award, President’s Award for academic excellence and a George C. Wallace Scholarship.

Fields served as president of the Robertsdale High Scholl Alumni Association, council representative to the Library Board, treasurer of the Robertsdale Chapter of American Business Women’s Association (Montgomery chapter), member of the Government Finance Officers Association, member of the South Baldwin Literacy Council and board member and treasurer of the Baldwin County Library System.

“The library was something she was always passionate about,” Murphy said, “especially when it came to getting a new library. She was a real driving force in getting that project completed.”

Beyond her work with the library, she was simply a good friend,” said Library Director Cynthia Nall.

“We went to high school together and she was always good for a laugh,” Nall said. “She was monumental in getting the new library built and believed in the importance of the library to the community. She also helped to get me placed as director.”

Fields was appointed to the special review committee of the GFOA, at the time the only Alabamian to serve on this national committee, according to the 1992 article.

She served on the Board of Advisors of the American Biographical Institute and was listed in the World Who’s Who of Women, Who’s Who Among American Women, Who’s Who of Female  Executives and the 200-Most Notable American Women (1990-92).

She was preceded in death by her father, Bobby Fields; and a nephew, Wally Somerset. Survivors include her mother, Dorothy Fields of Robertsdale; two sisters, Kathy Kershaw of Robertsdale and Karen Somerset of Loxley; three nieces, Samantha Kendrick of Robertsdale, Miranda Beard of Jacksonville, Fla., and Bobbi Jo York of Loxley; and a nephew, Joseph Lee Fields of Loxley.

Visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. Friday, May 24 from the chapel of Mack Funeral Home.

The family requests memorial donations be made to the Baldwin County Humane Society, 306 Magnolia Ave., Fairhope, AL 36532.