Nina Grace Duffel

Mrs. Nina Grace Allen Duffel, age 85, of Berry Mountain in Blount County, Alabama passed away peacefully Sunday morning, June 1, 2025. She was born in Walker County and was the youngest of eight siblings.
Nina was predeceased by her parents, Walter Lee Allen, Sr and Vista Bernice Allen, brother, Hubert Allen, all of Itawamba County, Mississippi; Walter Lee Allen, Jr of Dauphin Island, Alabama Quana Clements of Hueytown, Alabama, Jack Allen of Dora, Alabama Linda Therrell of Fairfield, Alabama and Glen Allen of Peach
Tree City, Georgia.
As a small child, Nina grew up in Corner, Alabama. She lived with her sister, Marilyn during pre-teen years on Eglin Airfare Base in Crestview, Florida to assist with her nephews. The remainder of her life she and Larry raised their children in Tarrant City, Alabama.
Her teen years were in the Robinwood community of Tarrant, Alabama. After many planned swimming visits to the local Robinwood plunge swimming pool in the 1950's, Nina persevered in several wrestling matches with some of her closest friends, and was ultimately saved from a questionable pre-fabricated drowning incident in which the most handsome young lifeguard came to her rescue. A few years later, she married that handsome lifeguard, Larry Joe Duffel, in 1957. They had 65 years together until his passing in 2022.
Nina was employed as a full time wife, mother, homemaker and she was an excellent cook. She was very involved with various school, sporting, and community events with her children at Boyles Elementary and
Tarrant City Schools.
She was an avid reader and frequented libraries in Tarrant and Gardendale. In later years, she became a diehard University of Alabama Roll Tide football fan during the Nick Saban era.
Nina's legacy was serving god in teaching Children's Sunday School for over 50 years to win many souls to God. She shared her gift of music at the church as assistant pianist for over 60 years. Although she never read sheet music, she began playing publicly at age seven, and played for many wedding and funeral events throughout the years.
Nina is survived by her beloved sister, Marilyn Leary of Fulton, Mississippi, sons, Scott Duffel (Sonja), and Chris Duffel (Cheryl), daughters Brandy Little (David Pomeroy), and Kelly Floyd (Richie) of Blount County, Alabama, grandchildren Megan Allen (Audie) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Miss Anna Grace Duffel of Blount County, Alabama, Nathan Duffel (Julia) of Warrior, Alabama Nicholas Johnson of Snead, Alabama and Mitchell Johnson (Lauren) of Fyffe, Alabama great-grandchildren: Foster Allen, Paisley Johnson, Silas Johnson, and Taylor Ann Duffel; and many loved and cherished nieces and nephews.
Visitation for Mrs. Duffel will be Saturday June 7, 2025 from 10:00 am until 11:00 am at the Blount County/Cleveland Funeral Home, 17885 State Highway 160 Cleveland, Alabama 35049. Funeral Services will follow at 11:00 am with Brandy Little and Ware Robertson officiating. Burial will follow in Dailey's Chapel Cemetery in Rosa, Alabama. Pallbearers will be Scott Duffel, Christopher Duffel, Audie Allen, Mitchell Johnson, Nick Johnson and Nathan Duffel.
Blount County/Cleveland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.