Mr. Tommy "Randall" Bean

Born in the Nixon Chapel Community on Sand Mountain in northeast Alabama, Randall Bean was the oldest child of Melville and Sue Slaton Bean. His paternal grandparents were Lee and Gertie Daniel Bean and his maternal grandparents were Willie and Ella Roberts Slaton. He finished high school in Guntersville, Alabama at Marshall County High School. Under Coach Tom Richey, he made the Northeast Alabama Conference All-Tournament basketball team two years and was also chosen as the most valuable player twice. He was selected as a forward on the 1962-63 All-County and All-District teams and as an alternate on the All-State Team. Randall signed an athletic scholarship with Snead College and played under Coach Emmett Plunkett for two years before transferring to Jacksonville State University. He played center on three Gamecock championship teams in the mid-sixties before becoming a basketball coach at Florence State University and then back at Jacksonville. Randall earned a Masters Degree in Education while at Jacksonville. He married Patricia Eyleen Wilkens in 1966 after they met at Jacksonville State. In 1971 they welcomed their first child, Heather Lynn Bean and son Randall Colter Bean followed in 1977. A son born to them in 1973 died at birth. In the late 1970's Randall relocated to Birmingham, Alabama and became a real estate appraiser, eventually working for the Veteran's Administration. He retired in the fall of 2023. Randall was a truly larger than life personality that loved fishing, woodworking, and telling stories. He was also a 50+year member of the Albertville Masonic Lodge. He loved his family dearly, loved traveling, especially to Pawley's Island, South Carolina during the annual family trip. One of the highlights of his year was the annual golfing trip with his old buddies and teammates. He didn't play the game but enjoyed driving the golf cart and reminiscing. He was the best father and husband anyone could want, loved his grandchildren dearly and was a good friend to all who knew him. He will be missed dearly for a very long time to come. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Patricia, his daughter Heather, son Colter (Ruth) and grandchildren Gibson Colter Bean and Mary Paten Bean. He is also survived by his brother Gary Bean. Preceding him in death are his parents, grandparents, and younger sister Peggy.