Nona Ruth Proctor

Nona Ruth Proctor was born in Guntersville, Alabama on October 14, 1939 and passed peacefully at Rehab Select of Albertville on July 29, 2025 with her daughter by her side. In the last few years of her life, after a stroke, Shepherd’s Cove Hospice Care was greatly instrumental in helping her adjust to her new normal. As you might imagine after four years and two months, the staff at Rehab Select became family. It was not unusual to see staff members stop by just to sit with her, pat her hand or give her a kiss on the forehead. She was surrounded by much love. This was very comforting for the family as some of us reside in other states. Nona had a unique perspective on how precious life is as her parents were unsuspectingly taken from her in a car accident when she was very young. She was raised by her grandmother and grandfather and was surrounded by aunts, uncles and cousins through her formative years. She didn’t waste one minute of any given day. She often escaped into books and had an insatiable appetite for reading. She started every day with the newspapers and always had a book in the works. She married Tony Proctor in May 1963. And then began pursuing her career in education. Nona became a very passionate educator. She attended Snead State Community College (as it was named then), then obtained her B.S. in education from Jacksonville State University. Followed later by her M.S. and Ed.S at the University of Alabama extension Campus in Gadsden, Alabama. She taught school all over North Alabama and finally landed in Albertville teaching English courses at AHS. She passed along her passion for understanding the written word and helping students grow to appreciate literature. For many years, she was one of two senior English teachers at Albertville High School. She was tough but fair. Many students have reported enjoying their time in her class. Later she served as the principal of West End Elementary School, now Albertville Elementary School, and later finished her career as part of the Albertville City Schools Board of Education. She was assigned multiple roles such as the nutrition program coordinator, curriculum coordinator, the before and after school program coordinator and testing coordinator. Nona was very involved in the United Methodist Church throughout her life. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Albertville. She was an avid volunteer as an usher, a Sunday school teacher and assisted with many other committees. Nona and Tony visited church members who were homebound and at nursing home for several years. She was an amazing disciple and Servant of Christ. She later became an Emmaus Walk mentor. In her free time you would often find her in the garden with Tony and doing yardwork. She also enjoyed attending plays at The Whole Backstage in Guntersville and going to the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. If you knew Nona, you know that she never stopped moving. She exercised daily and always had several projects in the works. We used to say Nona is a machine. Nona was a loving wife to Tony for 61 1/2 years before his passing in January 2025. When Nona had her stroke, Tony visited every her day. They were extremely close and they are now finally together again. One staff member stated that if they don’t have love like that in their life, they don’t want it. They were very dedicated to one another. Nona was a dedicated and loving mother and grandmother. She regularly visited her grandchildren, no matter where are the military took them. She was a very hands hands on grandparent often walking or driving the kids to school or practice, helping with homework or making meals. She would integrate herself into the local church, the community and any activities that we were all a part of. Sometimes we would attend events with her and they thought she was the local and we were the visitors. Nona had a long fight but we rejoice with her that she is whole again and with God, Tony, her parents and all those waiting for her in heaven. We have no doubt Nona will be working very hard watching over us all. Nona is preceded in death by her parents, Willard Proctor and Addie Ruth Segers Proctor, her late husband Tony Proctor, and survived by her daughter Jennifer Proctor Southerland (Tampa, FL), her granddaughter’s Regan Southerland (Nashville, TN), Scarlett Southerland (Tampa, FL) and their father (Ret.) Col Dolph Southerland. A funeral service to honor her life will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at Adams Brown Service Funeral Home, with Bro. Mark Adams officiating. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 p.m. prior to the service.

Nona Ruth Proctor

October 14, 1939 - July 29, 2025