Wynell “Nell” Lee Cornelius McAnally
On Saturday, September 10, 2022, Wynell “Nell” Lee Cornelius McAnally, precious follower of Christ, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away in her home at the age of 94.
Nell was one of nine siblings from Cullman, Al. Growing up through the Great Depression and World War II, Nell worked hard in retail sales until the birth of her daughter Jane. Following 16 years of being a stay-at-home mom, she found herself as a single parent and sole provider for her daughter when her husband James E. Cornelius died. She went back to work owning her own clothing store for 10 years.
Often you could find numerous people crowded around her table which was filled with lots of laughter, stories, and plenty of southern cooking. The vegetables came from her plentiful gardens and fruit trees and featured her famous fig and pear preserves. She spent hours at the sewing machine making clothes including Jane’s wedding dress. Nell was always stylish, especially for church.
At church Nell was very active as a teacher, program director, and in many other areas of ministry. She married Ernest “Mike” McAnally in 1977 and served as his helpmate in ministry in the church and throughout the community for decades. They are faithful members at Hopewell Church of God. Second to her love for Christ was her love for her family, especially her grandchildren’s families and her great-grandchildren. She took great joy in telling stories and playing games with them. At the time of her death, she was undefeated in Chinese checkers.
Nell is preceded in death by her father and mother, Luther and Lillian V. (White) Lee; her brothers, W.C. “Slim” (Virginia), Charles (Ruth), T.O. “Chuck” (Sharon), and Larry Lee; and her grandson, James Salyer.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Mike McAnally; her daughter and son-in-law Jane and Jeff Salyer, Sr.; her grandson Jeff Salyer, Jr. and his wife April and their kids Abigail and Brantley; her granddaughter, Jana and husband Jordan Davis and their kids, Vera Joiner, Chris Tarallo, Maddison and Macy Cooper. She is also survived by her brothers, Terry (Carol) Lee, and Don (Rita) Lee; sisters, Joyce (Carter) Hood and Shirley Ingram; and six nephews and eight nieces.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, Sept. 13, from 5-7 p.m. with a service to follow at Jim Rush Funeral Home Ocoee Chapel. Interment will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 11 a.m. (CT) at Cullman City Cemetery in Cullman, Al. Services will be officiated by pastors Clifford Waters and Jordan Davis.
Please make any donations in honor of Nell to the New Hope Pregnancy Center in Cleveland, TN.
You can share your memories and condolences with Mrs. McAnally’s family by going to her memorial page at jimrushfuneralhomes.com.