Sandra Dunnam Higdon

She was born in Westwood, AL on July 15, 1943 and grew up on Lafayette Street in Pratt City. A 1961 graduate of Ensley High School, she worked for the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a medical transcriptionist and administrative associate for thirty years, continuing her transcription work from home for more than a dozen years after retirement at the request of the doctor for whom she worked. She was one of Liberty Mutual Insurance Company’s original Liberty Belles, studied at Jefferson State Community College, and was a Sunday School teacher, Bible study leader, and active church member at New Covenant Fellowship, Cathedral of the Cross, and King’s Way Church. She and her husband Ray also ministered for several years at Hanover House Assisted Living Facility.

She was proud of her two sons, for whom she was a rock from their childhood until her death, without being prideful. She shared her love of cooking with her daughter-in-law by making her a collection of her favorite recipes. Her grandchildren knew her as Mimi, and she adored them as much as they adored her. She supported them in all of their endeavors, and especially enjoyed hearing them play in band concerts. She and her husband shared a love of corny jokes, and laughter and joy were wherever she went.

She took care of her husband and family while she fought her failing lungs, making difficult decisions and managing end-of-life care on her own terms, with excellent care from the UAB Lung Health Center, UAB Hospital, and special devoted attention in the last eight months from her hospice nurse, Jackie Dicie and the rest of the staff of Gentiva Hospice. We cannot express how grateful her family has been for this compassionate, professional care and for the kindness shown to her by dozens of medical professionals and dear friends over the last five years.

Sandra was funny, fun, strikingly beautiful, hard-working, fiercely devoted to her family and unwavering in her deep and abiding faith in a loving God, to whom she has now returned. Even the strongest of women must rest, and now she is finally able to rest in the arms of her Savior.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James Albert Dunnam and Walbur Ruth Pate Dunnam; her younger brother, William (Bubba) Dunnam, and her niece Leigh Ann Richey. She is survived by her husband of 27 years, Raymond Frank Higdon; her sons, Patrick Evans of Birmingham, and Chris (Katie) Evans of Trussville; grandchildren, Kendrick and Olivia Evans, brother, Charles (Carolyn) Dunnam of Springville, nephew, Jimmy Coshatt, of Pell City, and niece Caroline (Stephen) Armstrong, of Odenville.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made in memory of Sandra Dunnam Higdon to King’s Way College, Gentiva Hospice Foundation, or the charity of your choice.

A memorial service with committal following will be held in the chapel of Elmwood Funeral Home at 2pm on Saturday, May 6, with visitation from noon until 1:45pm.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.johnsridoutselmwoodchapel.com for the Higdon family.