Mary Lena McCullough Booth, 96, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, joined family and friends in the presence of her Savior on August 23, 2023. She was born on June 16, 1927, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to Scott McKinney McCullough and Annie Mae Mustachia McCullough.
Lena is survived by her children, Keith Booth (Ann), Gail Shannahan (Dan), Lynne Donoghue (Joe), Charlotte Walker (Johnny), Mark Booth, and Paul Booth (Linda). She also leaves behind her cherished grandchildren, Margaret Moss (Brent), Anna McGuire (Tyler), Sarah Cook (Chris), Danny Shannahan, Lauren Brewster (John), Leslie Seeley (Ryan), Danielle Richardson (Carey), and great-grandchildren Matthew Moss, Grace Moss, and Miller McGuire.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Scott McKinney McCullough and Annie Mae Mustachia, her husband of 62 years, William O. “Bill” Booth, Jr, her sister Margaret Neely, her brothers Scotty McCullough, Nick McCullough, Joe McCullough, and Newt McCullough, her grandson Will Booth, and great-granddaughter Miriam Moss.
Lena, as she was fondly known, possessed both inward and outward beauty. Her senior yearbook quote from Pine Bluff High School in 1945 perfectly captured her essence, "Her deeds were as pretty as her face." Lena was a woman of great compassion, wisdom, and grace, with a heart filled with immeasurable kindness.
She dedicated her career working with the Veteran's Administration, retiring from the Tuscaloosa VA. Working with the VA, Lena made a significant impact on the lives of many veterans, supporting Pharmacy services and the Chief of Pharmacy. She also took a break during her career to raise her six children, instilling in them the same values she carried throughout her life. When the youngest child started school, she returned to work at the Tuscaloosa VA until her retirement.
Lena was a beloved mother, investing not only in her own children but also in the lives of others. She taught Discipleship Training at Forest Lake Baptist for many years and actively participated in the children's Sunday School and nursery at Skyland Baptist. Her love for children extended beyond her own family.
In her free time, Lena found joy in cooking and was known for preparing the most amazing meals for her family. Her culinary skills were a reflection of her love and care for those around her.
Lena found solace and strength in her faith and was active at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Forest Lake Baptist, and Skyland Baptist. The places of worship she attended were a place she could both worship her Savior and serve her fellow man.
On behalf of Lena, the family wishes to thank the many caregivers that have supported and cared for her over the last 7 years, allowing her to be at home where her children were raised, and where she could enjoy her flowers, butterflies and birds that came to visit her daily. So many of her caregivers truly became an extension of our family and we are deeply grateful for the love they poured into her life, as she ministered to them with her sweet genuine lovingkindness of Christ. We are also so very grateful to her Sunday School teachers and class members and friends from church who have reached out to her with great love since becoming homebound.
Visitation for friends will be held from 12:45 to 1:45 PM on Saturday August 26, 2023 at Heritage Chapel Funeral Home, 5200 Old Birmingham Hwy, Tuscaloosa, AL. Graveside service will follow at 2 PM at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to West Alabama Hospice, St. Jude Children's Hospital, The Big Oak Ranch, or any charity close to your heart. These contributions will honor Lena's memory by supporting causes she deeply cared about.
Lena's legacy of compassion, wisdom, and grace will forever be cherished by her family and all those whose lives she touched. She will be remembered as a remarkable woman who made a difference in the lives of others through her selfless acts of kindness and unwavering love.
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