Jimmie Nell Purkey of Gardendale, AL was born on September 27, 1946 in Natchez, Mississippi and passed away on December 6, 2015 at the age of 69. She taught school in the Birmingham and Jefferson County School Systems for over 30 years. Mrs. Purkey was also a member of Gardendale’s First Baptist Church and played piano there for many years. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother who was very much loved and will be greatly missed. She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Coy E. “Ed” Purkey, Jr.; a son, Paul Bradley Purkey (Jennefer); her daughter, Sheralyn Purkey Valentine (Jim); grandchildren, Austin and Carson Purkey, Justin Andrew and Anna Valentine; brother, Harvey Estes (Marie); a uncle, Alvie Estes; cousin, Charles Ballew (Judy); sisters-in-law, Dorothy Thompson (Gary) and Christine Patterson (Allen); and brother-in-law, Garland Purkey (Rose).
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at Ridout’s Gardendale Chapel from 5 until 8 PM. A chapel service will be Wednesday, beginning at 11 AM and followed with interment in Oakwood Memorial Gardens.
