Mildred Julia Smith Shumaker

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. Mildred Julia Smith Shumaker, age 88, of Jacksonville, Florida, and Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Alabama, passed away on October 7, 2009, in Jacksonville, Florida. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park with Rev. Carl Wells and Rev. Vial Fontenot officiating and Heritage Chapel Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. Visitation will be Tuesday from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the funeral home.

Mrs. Shumaker was preceded in death by her husband, the late Thomas P. Shumaker, senior executive for Reichhold Chemicals, Tuscaloosa Public Library Board and Alabama Men's Hall of Fame Board chairman, author, and lecturer for whom the Reichhold-Shumaker Fellowship in Chemical Engineering at The University of Alabama is named. Her father was the late Lewis M. Smith, president of Alabama Power Company for whom Lewis Smith Dam and Lake were named, and her mother was the late Mary Moore Smith, Alabama WMU leader. Her late son Karl T. Shumaker, beloved surveyor, engineer, and instructor, also preceded her in death.

She is survived by her daughter, Laurie-Ellen Shumaker of Jacksonville, Florida; her son, Lewis A. Shumaker (Jeanie) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; granddaughter, Dresden Shumaker of Jacksonville, Fla.; grandsons, Harry A. Shumaker and Adam J. Shumaker, both of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; and great-grandson, Whitaker W. Shumaker of Jacksonville, Florida; as well as dear cousins in Birmingham, California, and Washington.

Long known as a civic group leader and volunteer in her own right, Mrs. Shumaker was a pianist, artist, and pilot. She was extremely active in many heritage societies, often as Regent, President, and Registrar, including Colonial Dames XVII Century, National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Colonies, and Dames of the Magna Charta, among others.

She was also a long-time Chapter Advisor for the local chapter of Alpha Chi Omega at The University of Alabama, her alma mater from which she received a Bachelors degree in Chemistry in 1946.

A member of First Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa for nearly seventy years, she was a fixture there along with her husband as they contributed to its education outreach.

Widely-traveled once her children had grown, Mrs. Shumaker made friends and connections throughout the world, always drawing diverse people to her and finding Alabama, Alabama Power, Alpha Chi, or ancestral connections wherever she went.

A loving and devoted wife and mother, her kindness and support were quietly and steadfastly given in many areas where her loss will be keenly felt.

In lieu of flowers, her family suggests contributions to local Hospice organizations, the Tuscaloosa Public Library genealogical collection, the First Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa historical records library, or The University of Alabama Libraries historical collection.