Anne Weatherford Loudermilch died peacefully at her home in Fairhope Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008, from complications associated with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
She will be remembered for her never-ending optimism, intelligence, wonderful sense of humor, and unselfish nature. Her abundance of caring, loyal friends was a testament to her complete devotion to the well-being and happiness of her friends and family, all of whom she loved with her whole heart and all of whom admired her for her grace under some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable, and for her unwavering faith that she lived out every day of her life in word and in deed.
She was born April 25, 1938 in Pascagoula, Miss., to Dr. William J. Weatherford and Rachel Milner Weatherford. She graduated from Pascagoula High School with honors in 1956, and from the University of Alabama with honors in 1960 with a degree in biology.
While at the University, she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Mortar Board, and was president of Delta Gamma sorority. Also while at the University she met and married her husband of 48 years, C. Wayne Loudermilch, from Anniston.
After residing for a few years in Tuscaloosa, Atlanta, and Chicago, they made their home in Mobile from 1965 until 1984, when they relocated to Fairhope.
While in Fairhope, she was an active member of St. James Episcopal Church, where she found great joy and friendship through her participation in the choir. She also enjoyed membership with the Junior Auxiliary of Fairhope, the Stitching Club, and the Wisteria Garden Club. She loved to cook, read, play the piano, and travel, and always loved whatever she did most if she could share it with someone she loved. From 1998 to the present time, they also maintained a home in Cashiers, N.C., where they kept an open door at all times to family and friends.
Survivors include husband, Wayne; son, William Wayne “Bill” (Heidi Schuster) Loudermilch of Charlotte, N.C.; daughter, Amy Loudermilch (Lawrence A. Bernert III) Bernert of Norfolk, Va.; six grandchildren, Drew Anne Loudermilch, Catherine Sara Loudermilch, and Claire Lucy Loudermilch, all of Charlotte; and Anne Avery Bernert, Allison Weatherford Bernert, and Lawrence A. Bernert IV, all of Norfolk; sister, Barbara Weatherford Aull; mother-in-law, Lucy Caudle Loudermilch; sisters-in law, Patricia Loudermilch (Charles) Smith and Janice Loudermilch (Randall) Posey; numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held Tuesday, Dec. 30 in the Greene Parish Hall at St. James Episcopal Church, Fairhope, followed by a memorial service in the church sanctuary.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the ALS Association of Alabama, 3313 Memorial Parkway SW #100, Huntsville, AL 35801, or to the St. James Episcopal Church Choir, 860 N. Section St., Fairhope, AL 36532.
Arrangements are by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., Fairhope.
