Miriam Selman Obituary

MOUNTAIN BROOK, Ala. - Miriam Groover Selman, 95, of Mountain Brook, Ala., and Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., passed away March 4, 2008.

Mrs. Selman was preceded in death by her loving husband of 57 years, Linton Stephens Selman Jr.; parents Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Parker Groover on Heflin, Ala.; brother, Jack Groover, Trussville, Ala.; sister, Pat Lambert, Montgomery, Ala.

She is survived by daughters Jane Parker Selman of Vestavia, Ala., and Margaret Ann Selman Kunkel and husband Lt. Col. Richard Hunter Kunkel Jr. USMC (Ret.) of Jacksonville; granddaughters, Holly Stephens Kunkel of Durham and Kristin Hunter Kunkel of New York, N.Y.; three sisters, Jo Classe', Carolyn Hawkins and Bobbie Amberson, all of Birmingham.

Mrs. Selman had been an active member of Canterbury United Methodist Church of Mountain Brook and Christ Episcopal Church in Ponte Vedra Beach. She was a longtime member of The Country Club of Birmingham and Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. She was a lover of gardening and music, gifted with the ability to play the piano "by ear."

With compassion, she served as a Pink Lady at St. Vincent and Baptist Montclair hospitals while living in Birmingham. After moving to Ponte Vedra Beach, she became active as a Docent at the Historical House of Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, sister and grandmother - loving life to its fullest. One of her greatest attributes, known by all who knew her, was that she never met a stranger.

Her granddaughters, Holly and Kristin, were two of the greatest highlights of her life. She was known to them as "Nana."

The family wishes to extend special thanks and appreciation to the caregivers at Mount Royal Towers in Birmingham. Also, we express our love and gratitude to Odyssey Healthcare and Amedysis Hospice Services for their care of Mrs. Selman and their loving support of the family.

A service of Christian burial will be graveside at Elmwood Cemetery at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 8, 2008. Elder Louis Hill, a devoted family friend, and Mrs. Selman's son-in-law, Rick Kunkel, will lead the service. Pallbearers will be her nephews Dr. John Classe', David Hawkins, William Amberson Jr., Elder Louis Hill, Lt. Col. Rick Kunkel and Anderson Hawkins.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Alzheimer's Research Foundation, 640 Jackson St., St. Paul, MN 55101 would be greatly appreciated by the family.

Services are under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel, 205-879-3401, Homewood, Ala.