Jeryl Champion

Jeryl Dean Leonard "Geri" Champion COALING Geri Leonard Champion, age 72, of Coaling, went to dance with her Heavenly Father February 12, 2013. Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, at First Wesleyan Church in Tuscaloosa with Pastor John Vaughan and Pastor Joel Gorveatte officiating. Burial will follow in Tuscaloosa Memorial Park with Magnolia Chapel Funeral Home South directing. Visitation will be tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at First Wesleyan Church. She was preceded in death by her mother, Evelyn Della Gilbert Chesnutt; her father, James "Buck" Carl Leonard; a half-brother, Sam Leonard; a great-nephew, Joshua Basham; and her grandparents. Survivors include her loving husband, James T. "Buddy" Champion; her daughter, Nedral Champion McGee; her son, Nathan Leonard Champion (Krista); two sisters, Jimmie Leonard Dutton (Howard) and Kandi Chesnutt Nolen; half-brothers and sisters, Carla Leonard Lopez, Suzanna Leonard-Rios, Kay Leonard, and Danny Leonard; four grandchildren, James Marc "Gee" McGee (Heather), Jon Wesley McGee (Deana), Allie Aubrey Champion, and Mary Evelyn Champion; one great-grandchild, Ryder Wesley McGee; two step-great-grandchildren, Emalee Jade Racowitz and Aiden James McGee; brothers and sisters-in-law, Charline Champion Collins, Glenn Champion (Araina), Billy Champion (Martha), Rendill Champion, Dexter Champion (Shirley), and Florenda Champion Shakir (Riz); nephews and nieces, Darlene Dutton, Jeff Dutton (Joyce), Ginger Dutton, and Kaila Nolen; numerous aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces-in-law, great-nephews and great-nieces, and cousins whom she loved dearly; and special friends, Cecilia Reece and Dottie Pittman. Mrs. Geri was a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend. She is loved by many and always had a smile and a joke for everyone she met. She has many children whom she loved and cared for throughout the years, and she will forever be remembered as a great storyteller. She had an awesome love for her Lord and Savior and wished for nothing more than to dance, run, and skip through Heaven's gates. Pallbearers will be Steve Meggs, Kevin Brown, Marlon Boshell, Dylan Elmore, Matt Champion, Jamey Champion, Clark Champion, and Rodger Champion. Honorary pallbearers are friends at First Wesleyan Church; members of the New Beginnings Sunday School class; karaoke friends from The Pottery Grill in Cottondale and Twix and Tween in Centreville; First Wesleyan Daycare employees, children, and parents; lifetime friends from Cottondale United Methodist Church; the family of Buddy and Carolyn McGee of Cottondale; friends and employees of Key Staff; administrators, doctors, nurses, and staff of DCH Regional Medical Center; special ACCU nurses and staff; and Dr. Gene Alldredge.