Tana Lee Thigpen

Tana Lee Vaughan Thigpen (age 82) of Vestavia Hills, left her worldly body behind and went to be with the Lord on December 30, 2025 in Hoover, Alabama. She passed peacefully surrounded by her loving family.

Tana Lee was a creative and loving person, and her devotion to her faith and her family knew no bounds. She was active in Shades Mountain Baptist Church from a young age, and that is where she met her husband of 58 years, Charles Stanley Thigpen.

Tana Lee was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. She received her BS from Howard College/Samford University and taught high school art in Huntsville, Alabama for a brief stint. She spent her young adult years raising her two children and staying busy with church activities such as choir, handbells, mission trips, and creating costumes and sets for many SMBC Christmas Pageants, and for Samford University’s drama department. She took up woodcarving and enjoyed being a member of the Tannehill Woodcarvers Club for several years. She was a professional clown, performing at birthday parties, school events, store openings and the like. Tana Lee loved yardwork and gardening. In her later years when physical limitations prohibited her from doing the work, she derived great joy riding the golf cart around with Stanley, advising what to plant where, and when to pick what. She was active in the international classes at Shades Mountain Baptist and really enjoyed getting to know people from different countries, and learning about their cultures. She was giving and never knew a stranger. She would start a conversation with anyone, anytime. She was supportive of those she loved. She cheered on her family’s educations, careers, interests, sports, and hobbies over the years.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy Evelyn Vaughan and her father, Robert Clay Vaughan She is survived by her husband Stanley, her two children, Lisa Rene’ (Alan) and Arthur Brandon, her grandchildren: Brandon (Frances), Briana (Andrew), James (Kellan), great-grandchildren: Amelia, and Liam, mother in law Helen, and brother in law Ed, stepmother Martha, and extended family.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Shades Mountain Baptist Church or a mission or charity of your choosing.