Phyllis Ann Wickham Stinson was born on Aug. 29, 1949, in Langdale, and passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by family, on June 16, 2019. 

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Wednesday, June 19 at 2 p.m. CT at Brookwood Baptist Church in Birmingham with visitation at 1 p.m.

Ann was raised in a loving home in Lanett (the “Valley”) by her parents, Vernon Thomas “Joe” Wickham and Bertie Alice Sossomon Wickham, along with her wonderful sister and best friend, Bobbie Jo. 

In 1972, she met the love of her life, Terry W. Stinson, husband of 46 years and devoted father to their two daughters, Sandy and Amy. Ann studied music at Wesleyan College after graduation from Lanett High School.  In 1984, her determination led her to complete her bachelor’s degree at UAB in marketing with high honors.  She went on to work as a legal assistant for many years, and also happily served at her home church, Brookwood Baptist, as an administrative assistant to the Rev. Bryant Strain.

A talented pianist, thanks to years of study with Mary Bone, Ann was genuinely happy sitting down to play hymns, show tunes, Christmas carols, and classical pieces.  She was always happy to share her musical talents at assisted living facilities, where she lifted the spirits of both residents and staff.  Ann and her sister, Bobbie, were a delight when they played duets at family gatherings. Ann always made friends easily, with a welcoming smile that would light up a room.  She always had time to love people well, and she brightened the lives of everyone she met.  Her spirited joy shone in her eyes to all around her, whether it was fellow patients at various clinics, her lifetime high school friends on annual Makin’ Memories trips to the mountains or sailing the Caribbean with Terry and dear friends.  Ann loved to visit her father’s old home place in Salem, Nebraska, and she and Terry made many trips there to stay in the old home and roam the banks of the Nemaha River.  She delighted in cheering on her Auburn Tigers, and she treasured family trips to the beach to “dip her toes in the sand” and spend time with her beloved grandchildren.  At home, Ann had a green thumb, and raised beautiful fleur d’amour plants, giving many away as gifts to friends and family.  Ann will be lovingly remembered for the sense of stability, inner strength, and joy she brought to her family and many friends.  Her grandchildren will always remember her as their biggest fan.

Ann was preceded in death by her adoring parents, Joe and Bertie Wickham of Lanett and her sister, Bobbie Jo Abercrombie of Opelika.  She is survived by her loving and loyal husband, Terry Stinson, as well as her cherished family, daughters and sons-in-law Sandy and Tommy McKinnon of Montgomery and Amy and Bill Keaton of Savannah, Georgia; her grandchildren Kendall, Connor, Stinson, Ansley, and Wick; and nieces Kathy King and Nancy Herring (Bobby). Should friends desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at 2200 Woodcrest Place, Suite 230, Birmingham, AL 35209 (nationalmssociety.org) or the Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation at 4330 East West Highway, Suite 230, Bethesda, MD 20814 (www.aamds.org), or donate blood or platelets in memory of Ann.

Southern Heritage Funeral Home will be handing the arrangements.