Albert "Al" Leo Shumaker

Obituary

Albert (Al) Leo Shumaker

December 3, 1940 - February 19, 2025

Al (as he was affectionately called by family, friends, clients and coworkers) was born in Jasper, Alabama, to parents Albert G. Shumaker and Hazel Rutledge Shumaker. He and his wife, Anne Williamson Shumaker were married in August 1966. Even at an early age, he was active in church, community and school activities. He was a graduate of Walker County High School in Jasper where he was an honor student, a tuba player in the band and president of his senior class. Through the years, he has coordinated many reunions for his class members. From the age of 10 until mid 20's, he was a competitive swimmer and participated in many swim meets. From high school through law-school days, he served as a lifeguard and swim instructor (after moving to Centre, Alabama, he often taught swimming classes for DHR foster children and other youngsters). The City of Centre Aquatic Center was named after him in 2023. In 1963, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Howard College (now Samford University). He received his Juris Doctorate degree from Samford’s Cumberland School of Law in 1965. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in September of 1965; the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama in 1966 and the U.S. Supreme Court in 1971. He has served as city attorney for Centre, Alabama since 1980. He has also served three other Cherokee County municipalities as attorney during recent years. He has served as the attorney for the Northeast Alabama Water, Sewer & Fire Protection District for more than 45 years (in fact he allowed his office to be the sign up location for prospective water district customers as the water district was formed). He was currently serving as the attorney for the Centre Water Works and Sewer Board and other boards throughout the county in past years. He was a registered agent of Mississippi Valley Title Insurance Company (now Old Republic National Title Insurance Company) since 1971. Through the years he practiced trial law, banking law, municipal law, real estate law and probate law. For many years he was the attorney for the Department of Human Resources and served as guardian ad litem for many foster children served by DHR.

He served on the Board of Trustees at Samford University for more than 20 years. He also served on the board of the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama - chairing the board and numerous committees as well. He was a member and an officer of the Centre Lion’s Club for more than 10 years and later the Centre Rotary Club for more than 30 years. 

He was active in Centre First Baptist Church (joined in 1965) where he taught various Sunday School levels for 58 years. He and his wife also led high school training union classes for a few years. He was a member of the sanctuary choir for 25 years. He served as trustee and chaired numerous church committees for many years. 

He was also involved in the Cherokee chapter of the American Red Cross (even allowing his office to be used as headquarters for quite some time). He was a supporter and member of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and served as a director for several years - in addition to receiving several COC rewards. He served on the district and state Boy Scout councils and supported boy scout activities - programs in which he was very interested since he was an active boy scout as a child and teenager. He served on the board of directors of Farmers & Merchants Bank for many years and later when the bank merged with First Southern State Bank. He was a part of the F & M Bank Shares Incorporated prior to the merger with FSSB. 

He was influential and an avid supporter of the formation of the Law Library of the Cherokee County Court House as well as the renovation of the court house’s main courtroom. He was a frequent speaker and consultant for numerous local organizations and continuing legal education programs for attorneys throughout the state. He has been an ardent member and supporter of the Cherokee County Bar Association throughout his career. Numerous community projects have been promoted and strengthened by his advice and service.

Survivors

Wife: Anne Williamson Shumaker

Nephew: Nolan (Dina) Sparks 

Grand Niece: Sylvie Sparks

Grand Nephews: Alex Sparks and Adam Brakefield (Lisa) Sparks

Great Grand Niece: Audrey Sparks

Sister-in-law: Lane Gregory 

Brothers-in-law: Richard Schlinkert and John Crump

Special Cousins: Susan Rutledge, Ann Rutledge and Jon Rutledge

Special Cousin-in-law: Jane Weathers Rhame

Chosen Goddaughter: Shyann Wells

Office Staff: Penny (Kent) Kelley, Linda (Gary) Hardin and Amanda (Clifford “Bubba”) Burton

Former Office Staff: Johna (Richard) Lindsey, Avery McRay, Mary Burk (deceased), Theresa Pelfrey, Jon Rutledge, Pam Powell and Sherian Brashier

Preceded in Death

Parents: Albert G. Shumaker and Hazel Rutledge Shumaker

Sister: Sylvia Crump

Brother: Bill Shumaker

Mother and Father-in-law: Dean T. and Lloyd G. Williamson

Niece: Lori Sparks

Pallbearers

Representative Richard Lindsey, Mayor Mark Mansfield, Honorable Dean Buttram, Jr., Judge Wes Mobley, Dr. James Walker, Lanny Starr, Jed Lockridge and Pete Conroy

Honorary Pallbearers

Judge Randall Cole, Judge David Rains, D.L. Powell, Tim Lavender, Tommy Minnix, Walter Duke, Pat Tate, Jerry Scruggs, Steve Sumners, Mike Leonard, Wallace Lyons, Cherokee County Bar Association, Members of the Fellowship Men’s Sunday School Class, Centre Rotary Club, Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama Board Members

Funeral services will be held at 3pm Sunday, February 23, 2025 at the Recreational Outreach Facility (the ROC) of Centre First Baptist Church with Clergy Eddie Nation, Gary Hardin and Melvyn Salter officiating.

The Honorable Shumaker will be lying in state in the law library of Shumaker and Associates Law Firm, 270 East Main Street on Saturday, February 22, 2025 from 3pm until 6pm. The family will be receiving friends during that time. A committal service will be held on Monday, February 24, 2025 at 2pm at Oak Hill Cemetery in Jasper, Alabama.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to one of the following organizations:

Al Shumaker Scholarship at Cumberland School of Law

c/o Samford University 

800 Lake Shore Drive, Homewood

Birmingham, AL 35209

Centre First Baptist Church Building Fund

300 East Bypass

Centre, AL 35960

Centre Rotary Club

P.O. Box 792

Centre, AL 35960

Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama

1701 Henry Road

Anniston, AL 36207

Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home in charge of all arrangementswww.cherokeememorialfuneralhome.com