Nevis Smith Purser

On Wednesday September 30, 2026, our beloved mother and granny Nevis Ann Purser passed away peacefully in Mount Olive, Alabama where she lived in the home that her father had built with his own hands. She was just shy of her 83rd birthday.

Nevis was born in Walker County Alabama and was a graduate of Mortimer Jordan High School. She worked most of her career in the Wal-Mart garden center where she was known to her coworkers as “Plant Mama”. Unfortunately due to a back injury her career was cut short and she was forced to retire. Nevis had many interests including sewing and many, many children were adorned with the unique bibs that Nevis had hand sewn and given to new parents as gifts. She was also well known for her love of baking and cooking. Almost anyone who knew her had tasted her famous chicken and dumplings. Every year at Christmas she could be found in the process of baking cookies, cakes, brownies and all manner of other goodies. Nevis was also a member of the Olive Grove Congregational Methodist Church. Nevis truly loved her Lord and had read her bible, front to back, on many occasions and could often found reading and studying scripture. Even when her health began to fail she would still insist on helping and being involved with church activities and she loved every minute of it! Nevis never met a stranger and would laugh and chat with anyone she met and in fact has been the person that was most remembered by visitors to the church. She always loved her children and grandchildren but the true love of her life were her great grandchildren. Nevis was one of the people most prepared to meet her Lord that you would ever encounter. She always insisted that her passing not be a somber and sad occasion but that she be remembered with the laughter and happiness that she herself lived by.

Nevis was survived by her daughters Stacie Ann (Scott), Mindy (Dale) Ross (Rachel) and Dale (Teresa). Grandchildren Joseph, Patrick (Hannah Bell), Nicole, Austin, Brittnay (Char), Christopher, Madison, and Shelby. Great Grandchildren, Dakota, River, Laklin, Luna, Sebastian, Jameson (JJ), and Asher. Brother Edward Smith. Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Nevis was preceded in death by her husband Jimmy Dale Purser, mother Nora Smith, father Otis Smith, and numerous in-laws.

Visitation will be held at Ridout's Gardendale Chapel, 2029 Decatur Hwy, Gardendale, Alabama, on October 5, 2026, at 1:00 pm. A Celebration of Life Service will follow at 2:00 pm., with burial to take place at Oakwood Memorial Gardens, 2100 Moncrief Road, Gardendale, Alabama, following the service.

Service to be officiated by Nevis’ beloved pastor John Curtain. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to The Olive Grove Congregational Methodist Church.