• Rinehart & Sons
John Stanley Tootle
Birmingham,
Alabama—John Stanley Tootle, 75, of Birmingham, Alabama, died peacefully on Aug. 2, 2024, surrounded by his family.
Born on Feb. 2, 1949, in Brunswick to Laura Malvia Loretta (nee Rogers) Tootle and James Lawton Tootle, he was raised in Jesup and graduated from Wayne County High School in 1967. He excelled academically and musically, performing in Southern garage bands including Chosen Few, Soul Sensation and Wheatstone Mission.
He completed a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree at Georgia Southern University and a doctorate degree at Florida State University. He did post-doctoral work at the University of Alabama Birmingham, where he held various research positions in the departments of psychology, neurobiology and optometry.
He married Wendy Louise Marsh-Tootle, and they raised three “amazing” sons—Joseph Andrew, Robert Aaron and John Walker— in Birmingham.
His passions were his family, his music and outdoor sports, including hiking, canoeing and baseball. He was a talented pianist who enjoyed the works of Schubert and Chopin, sang tenor at Cahaba Heights Methodist Church, and enjoyed playing his mandolin on the back porch. He was a leader for Boy Scout Troop 512, coached baseball for each of his sons, and was a two-time UAB intramural co-ed softball champion with the Department of Psychology’s team—the PsychoBats.
He was an avid supporter of his mother’s genealogical work and once complimented her charting as “worthy of Pascal.” Devoted to his family and friends, he is best remembered for his efforts to make the people around him happy. “His gentle spirit and perpetual smile endeared him to all who knew him. A true gentleman who was grateful for all his blessings, he never bemoaned his final protracted battle with PCA Alzheimer’s,” his family said
Survivors include his wife, Wendy; their sons, Joseph (Chelsea) Tootle and their children, Constance Ann and Elizabeth Lee, of Bronxville, New York, Robert (Helen Hunter) Tootle of Atlanta and John Walker (Lindsey) Tootle of Cincinnati, Ohio; siblings, Karen Tootle Fender of Albany, Susan Tootle (Bubba) Renfrow of Statesboro, Jimmy (Jan) Tootle of Jesup, Janet Tootle (John) Royal of Screven and Mark (Lori) Tootle of Odum; nephews, John Fender, Trip Renfrow, Blair Renfrow, Jay Tootle, Matthew Tootle, Rob Royal, Daniel Royal, Sid Royal, Adam Tootle and Josh Tootle; nieces, Julie Fender Harris, Amy Tootle Langley and Sallie Royal Tyre; in-laws, David (Katherine) Marsh, Julie (Ted Domino) Marsh of St Louis, Missouri and Laura Marsh (Bill) Beltrame of Brookfield, Wisconsin; nephews, Ryan Marsh, Bart Domino, Alex Domino; and nieces, Jennifer Marsh Coan, Hannah Domino Masek, Alyssa Beltrame, Angela Beltrame Sowder and Amanda Beltrame Farrokhnia.
Services will be held on Saturday (Aug. 17) at 11 a.m. at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home with nephew the Rev. John Fender officiating. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in the Liberty Cemetery. A memorial service is planned for September in Birminghan—wmarsht25@gmail.com.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to Children’s Vision International or Seven Hills Baroque are appreciated.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
• Out of town
Glenda Faye Chancey Riddle
The Woodlands, Texas—Glenda Faye Chancey Riddle, 75, of The Woodlands, Texas, formerly of Blackshear, died Aug. 7, 2024, at the Vista Hospice of The Woodlands, Texas.
Born in Offerman on Dec. 9, 1948, she had lived in Jesup for many years, before moving to the K’ville community, and later to Blackshear, and finally The Woodlands to be closer to her son a year and a half ago. She retired after 30 years of service with the Wayne County school system as a dietician at Wayne County High School. She will be remembered as a very generous lady and was always one of the first to arrive with food for any occasion.
She loved and cared for everyone, but especially her children and grandchildren. She was a member of the Offerman Baptist Church, but had also attended First Baptist Church in Blackshear, where she was a member of the Faith Walkers Sunday School Class.
She was a daughter of the late, Oscar Riley and Clara Mae Dixon Chancey. She was also preceded in death by her husband, William R. Riddle; a brother, Terry Chancey; and her brother-in-law, Eddie Whitted.
Survivors include two sons, Bill (Suzan) Riddle of The Woodlands and Barry (Jamie) Riddle of the K’Ville community; a sister, Brenda Whitted of Blackshear; three grandchildren, Christopher Riddle, Kimberly (Kyle) McArthur and Dusty Riddle; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services will be held Aug. 17 (Saturday) at 11 a.m. from Pearson-Dial Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor James Lightsey officiating.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.
Interment will be in the Offerman Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Offerman Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 37, Offerman, GA 31556 or to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, www.t2t.org.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online register at www.pearsondial.com.
Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.