Mr. Bertram Frank Ferrell Sr.

24, 2012 at age 93. Born in Old Hickory, Tenn., Bert loved his family,

country and music. He expressed his strong faith in God through his

singing in church choirs all of his life. His beautiful voice -

whether in church, a barbershop quartet or the opera - blessed all

those who heard him. He began singing at Woodbine Methodist Church in

Nashville when he was a teenager. He continued singing in church

choirs and as a soloist until he was 90 years old. He was graduated

from Central High School and Vanderbilt University, both in Nashville.

At Vanderbilt he played shortstop and second base for the baseball

team. Bert served in World War II in the Army Air Corps at Air Depot

No. 2 in Northern England, and in the Reserves afterward. His almost

40-year civilian career was spent at U.S. Pipe and Foundry in

Birmingham and Chattanooga. In his retirement he taught personnel

relations in the business school at the University of Tennessee at

Chattanooga. Bert was a leader at both Avondale United Methodist

Church in Birmingham and Signal Crest United Methodist Church in

Signal Mountain, Tenn. He will be missed by family and many friends.

He is preceded in death by wife Martha Ames Ferrell, parents Alfred

Douglas and Medie Ferrell, and brothers Thomas Douglas Ferrell and

Houston Anthony Ferrell. He is survived by wife Frances Manly

Ferrell; sons Bertram Frank Ferrell, Jr. (Alice, Birmingham), William

Northern Ferrell (Susie, Montgomery), and Paul Douglas Ferrell

(Chattanooga); daughters Ellen Morgan Newell (James, Mobile) and Mary

Lee Montgomery (Gene, Mobile); and brother William Owen Ferrell (Ruth,

Nashville). He is also survived by stepchildren Harold C. Manly, Jr.

(Lynn, Birmingham) and Ellen Manly Thomas (Michael, Birmingham); 17

grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. The funeral service will be

held Saturday, July 28 at 1:30 p.m. CDT at Avondale United Methodist

Church in Birmingham, with visitation following in the fellowship

hall. The burial service will be Monday, July 30 at 1:30 p.m. EDT at

Chattanooga National Cemetery in Chattanooga. In lieu of flowers,

please send memorial gifts to Avondale United Methodist Church, 500 S.

40th St., Birmingham, AL 35222 or to Signal Crest United Methodist

Church, 1005 Ridgeway Ave., Signal Mountain, TN 37377.