Naomi Christine Fitzgerald Bagwell

Christine Bagwell, 83, of Argo (previously Mt. Olive), passed away on July 29, 2013, after a mercifully brief encounter with cancer.

She was predeceased by her husband of 53 years, James (Jim) Bagwell; her parents, Rolfe and Lula Mae Fitzgerald; brothers David, Donald, Dewitt, and Byron Fitzgerald; and grandson, James Walworth.

She is survived by children, Jill Walworth (Van), of Lebanon, Tenn.; Clifford Bagwell (Karen), of Springville; Beth Phillips (Tom) of Argo; Jane Forehand (C. E.) of Norfolk, Va.; and Timothy Bagwell (Ashlyn), of Gardendale. She is also survived by her brothers Ray (Lucille) Fitzgerald and Stephen (Joyce) Fitzgerald, both of New Albany, Miss. She and Jim were blessed with 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, and many, many friends. She was a member of Argo Christian Fellowship, and is present with the Lord at this moment.

The only daughter of seven children, she was born on December 13, 1929, and was raised on a farm outside of New Albany, Miss. After graduating from Mississippi State at age 19, she eventually settled in Tuscaloosa, where she met Jim, a returning veteran of the Korean War, at a mixer where her pasta dish caught his attention.  Besides being a homemaker and devoted mother, she served on the Jefferson County and state Republican Executive Committees, sold real estate, helped start the Northern Arts Council in Jefferson County and was a community and school volunteer. She excelled at anything she tried. She was a loving friend, nurturer, exceptionally wise, an artist, musician, craftswoman, chef, modest, self-sacrificial, and serene. She embodied Galatians 5:22-23.

Visitation on Thursday, Aug.1 from noon to 2 p.m. at Argo Christian Fellowship, 936 Highway 11, Argo, AL.  Funeral to follow at 2 p.m.

The family thanks everyone for the many prayers and kind gestures offered during this past month, and extends a special thank you to her sitters: Rachel Dent, Lisa Butler and Denise Crowe.