Mary Magdalene Cagle Whitburn

Mary Magdalene Cagle Whitburn, 92, of Wilsonville, Alabama died July 23, 2025, at home. A visitation will be held on Sunday, July 27, 2025 at Bolton Funeral Home at 5:00 PM with the funeral service beginning at 6:00 PM with the Rev. Wesley Criswell presiding. A graveside service will be held on Monday, July 28th at 10:00 AM at the Columbiana City Cemetery with Rev. Jason Hobbs presiding. Mary was born January 21, 1933 in Waterloo Alabama, Lauderdale County, the daughter of the late Noah Cagle and Essie Mae Scott Cagle. Mary had 9 siblings; Dorothy Burke, Bonnie Jones (Casey ), Otha Cagle (Ruby), Betty Cagle, Eloise Seale (Morris), Jerry Cagle, Mariah Hethcox, Lyla Norris, and Lyda Cagle. Mary spent her childhood in Alabama, Mississippi and Wisconsin. Her family eventually settled in Columbiana, Alabama where she attended elementary school. Later she attended Childersburg High School where she played softball. She had fond memories of visiting with friends and attending church. Mary left school to begin earning money to help support her mother and siblings. She worked hard to receive her GED while she was working at Bonnet Textile Mills. Mary met James (Jimmy) Whitburn in Birmingham, Alabama. They were married for 61 years. They shared six children together: James Whitburn Jr, Dan Smith, Midge Bagby (Thomas), Cyndy Woodall (Irby), Tammy Warren (Greg) and Bette Nix. There are twelve grandchildren: Rachel Morrison-Johnson (Jeff), Kyle Morrison, Carmen Pangman (Jaime), Adam Lemley (Lisa), J.P. Lemely (Brooke), Marc Lemley, Christopher Moore (Kelli), Timothy Warren (Lacie), Christopher Nix (Jennifer), Samantha Smith (Ryan), Camille Ekbatani (Ray), and Patrick Bagby (Savannah). There are twenty-two great grandchildren: Emma Stange (Daylin), Lark Johnson, Mason, Annabelle and Ronin Morrison, Scarlett and Alice Pangman, Noah and Andrew Lemley, Knox Lemley, Zoey and Abbey Moore, Baby Warren, Levi Nix, Noah, Zoe and Tucker Smith, Norah, Colin and Luke Ekbatani and Annie and Hank Bagby. As mentioned earlier, Mary enjoyed attending church. Her beloved grandparents began this journey for her by taking her to a little country church. She continued attending as she grew and would tell the story of how she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior. She was about ten years old and was attending Vacation Bible School. On the last day, she and several others stayed behind to speak to the pastor. She was overwhelmed by the love and acceptance she felt. She was baptized several weeks later. Mary continued to develop her love for Christ and her faith. She instilled this belief to her children, ensuring they were in church at a young age, learning the Gospel. She held tight to the scripture Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; when he is old he will not depart from it.” Mary enjoyed being a mother, raising her children. She stayed home with them until the youngest began school. She then returned to the workforce. While she was a stay-at-home mom, she provided home baked goodies and sewed clothes for them all. She took time to teach them how to read/write, ride bicycles, swim and have a heart for others. Mary was very tender hearted and wanted her children to be the same. It grieved Mary deeply when she had to return to the workforce, but when you are raising multiple children, there is a need for money. She worked hard while at home and then worked a swing-shift job. She had a strong work ethic and passed that long to her children. The oldest daughter, Midge, learned the art of sewing from Mary. Cyndy and Midge inherited Mary’s singing ability. Mary wanted Bette to become a writer, but Bette would rather talk than write. Tammy inherited Mary’s heart of compassion and that of a peace maker. Mary encouraged all the children to work hard in school and to do the best they could. As the children grew into adulthood, Mary supported each family as she could. She enjoyed the grandchildren and great grandchildren beyond words could describe. She “tended” to the grands so the parents could work and go to appointments. She SPOILED them rotten as a grandparent should do. She was their beloved YAYE. Chris loves to tell others of Yaye and their many adventures. She would take them on LONG bike rides around Wilsonville. They would ride from Blue Springs Road all the way to Beeswax and back. Of course they would all go swimming while at the river. Not only was she an avid bike rider, but she was an excellent swimmer. She could outswim those around her. She would take Chris and his cousins to the ball park for practice. She took them everywhere they needed to go in her van, her MIGHTY VAN. They were in the Columbiana Parade one year. There was Yaye and a van full of kids. Who knows how this happened? But what fun! Yaye drove the grands and their friends all over creation. She even took a bunch of rambunctious teenagers to their prom and sat in the van all night quietly reading, while they danced the night away. What a GRAND LADY. Not only did Mary have a soft heart for people, she absolutely loved animals. She passed that love of animals, big and small, to all of the children and grandchildren. There is a story of a time when Mary was volunteering for the Shelby Humane Society. She learned about some strays near the corner of Co Rd. 26 and 70. She went daily to put out food and water. She tried multiple times to catch the dogs. She spent over $200 on a dog house and hired two men to place the house in the wooded area. She kept cat/dog food in the back of her van so she could feed any animal she thought “looked” hungry. Many a cat and dog were “dropped” off at her house by others because they knew she would adopt them. There is so much more we can tell you about our beloved Mother and Yaye, but the most important fact is that she loved the Lord and wanted others to love Him also. We are sure she heard, “Well done thy good and faithful servant”.

Mary Magdalene Cagle Whitburn

January 21, 1933 - July 23, 2025