Karen Ann James Lord

Karen James Lord passed in the early morning on August 7th leaving wonderful memories with her beloved family and friends. She had a selfless drive to help others behind the scenes, the knack to make new friends anywhere she was and the endearing ability to “talk the horns off a billy goat.”

She was born on June 18, 1952 to Charles Delano James and Talma Ann Mitchell James in Sheffield, Alabama where she spent her early years. She was the older sister of four siblings. Katherine “Kathy” Tornquist (Skip), Krista Dillard (Dewey), Kerry “Bobo’” James and Kimberly “Kim” Kidd (Jim). She also lived her formative years in St. Louis Missouri where she graduated from Lindberg High school in 1970. Then she attended UNA for a couple of years and joined the workforce afterwards.

On June 18th 1977, she married her loving husband of 49 years, William “Bill” Lord. They settled down in Trussville and made it their home for 45+ years. They welcomed their daughters, Katherine Ann in January 1982, Cynthia Kay in May of 1984 and Jennifer Marie in February of 1988. Through the years, their family grew through marriages and births. Katherine married Austin Young and they had one son Christopher William Young. Cynthia welcomed Joseph William Harding Jr., Maggie Elizabeth Harding and Mylez Benton Lord to the family. Jennifer married Jared Wanninger and they welcomed Ada Jane Wanninger and Anton James Wanninger. They have even welcomed two Great-grand kids through Maggie (Caleb), Kai Jaxon Halcome and Oaklynn Rayne Campbell.

She worked for a few local companies and as an elder caretaker before retiring from APS after a 9-year career in 2018. Most will remember her nearly 8-year tenure as the Manager or the Soda Fountain at Haisten’s Drug store and Toomer’s Drug Store. She loved making customers happy with her welcoming smile, warm greetings and great milkshakes. She spent her fall Saturdays cutting thousands of lemons for the world-famous Toomer’s Corner Drug Store Lemonade. She loved knowing she was helping people make memories at Auburn Football games. She lived a life of service behind the scenes. She was a decades-long member of Foresters International. She was a dedicated member of First Baptist Trussville where she served any time the doors were open. She was a committed member of the adult choir in the alto section, handbells choir, flower/decorating committee, and for years took monthly birthday cakes to the residence of the local nursing home. The position she loved the most was being the teacher of the Special Friends class, now known as Our Place, where she taught for 20+ years. She also loved music and the theater. She was a part of several productions over the years at the ACTA Theater in Trussville, with her last role as “Emma” in April of 2023 production of “Over the River and Through the Woods”. Her love for singing was evident in her participation in the Alabama Civic Chorale where she enjoyed singing Handel’s Messiah every year for over a decade. With the chorale she even had the chance to sing on stage in New York’s Carnegie Hall!

Karen is proceeded in death by her parents, De (Charles) and Ann (Talma); her sister Kim and Niece Melissa (Kathy). Along with several loving family members and friends. Karen is survived by her loving husband, Bill, daughters Katherine, Cynthia, Jennifer, and their families (named above). Her sister Kathy and her family; husband Skip and daughter Michelle. Her sister Krista and her family; husband Dewey and daughters Deedee, Katie and their families. Her brother Kerry and many other family extended members that loved her.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following:

FBC Trussville Our Place class

https://www.fbctrussville.org/give

128 North Chalkville Road Trussville, Al 35173

Acta Theater 

https://www.actatheater.com/sponsorships-donate 

225 Parkway Drive Trussville, Al 35173

FBC Trussville Adult Choir

https://www.fbctrussville.org/give

128 North Chalkville Road

Trussville, Al 35173 Alabama 

Civic Chorale 

www.alabamacivicchorale.com

 P.O. Box 362210 

Hoover, Al 35236