On Saturday, May 30, 2026, Belinda Ann Clingempeel, 67, of Huntsville, Alabama, passed into the hands of the Lord in the early morning hours. She was surrounded by her loving family members. And after 15 years of exposure, she faced cancer with unwavering strength and grace. She never lost a warrior spirit to win the battle even through challenging treatments. In the end, it is not the number of years in life that counts, it is the life one lives in those numbers of years. This was Ann’s philosophy and she lived it to the end.
Ann was born into a military family and continued the military lifestyle when she met and married her husband, Bill, in Germany in 1978. Ann loved traveling and setting up homes all across the United States until her husband retired. Until recently, her passport was filled with stamps from adventures in numerous countries and regions.
Ann’s hobbies included hosting friends and family in her home, making jams and jellies, and pickling cucumbers and vegetables. She often brought jams and jellies to her doctor and nurses at Clearview Cancer Institute to show her appreciation for the loving care they provided. Needlepoint was another passion. So many family members proudly hang their beautifully and lovingly crafted stockings on their mantle each Christmas season.
Ann loved people and was fiercely protective of those she loved. Her happiest days were spent with family. She thrived on sharing lunches, game nights, and varied outings with her countless friends. Once Ann knew your name, you were treated like family. She knew each one of her caregivers by name, often asking about their families. She had that rare gift of making everyone feel loved and important. As nurses left her room, she always closed with “Thank You, Sweetie.”
Ann’s father, Aubrey Tillman, preceded her in death. Survivors are her loving husband, William Clingempeel; her son, Christopher Clingempeel (Lisa); daughter, Stephanie Gardiner (Brian); her precious grandchildren who were the light of her life, Jackson, Hayden, and Holden Gardiner, Aubrey Ann, and Zachary Clingempeel, and Christian Harloff. Ann is also survived by her mother, Betty Tillman; and sisters, Jeanne Welt (John) and Ronda Stephens (Dell); numerous nieces and nephews, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, and countless friends who became family. Her survivors are forever changed by her courage.
The family will receive guests from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026, at Rinehart Funeral Home in Jesup, Georgia. A graveside service at Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery will follow at 11:00 a.m. She will be laid to rest beside her father, Aubrey Tillman. Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home of Jesup is the service provider and handling arrangements. Active pallbearers will be family members.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 12, 2026, at Cove Church, Hampton Cove, Alabama, conducted by congregational members and Reverend John Tanner. A reception will immediately follow the memorial at the Hampton Cove Homeowners Association (HOA) Community Facility.
There is no measure of thanks we can offer Clearview Cancer Institute (CCI) and the doctors, staff, techs, and admin who have cared for Ann over the last 15 years. These people are simply life savers and angels on earth. Dr. Phillip McGee (oncologist) and his wonderfully caring staff deserve more thanks than anyone can repay. Ann’s offerings to them were hand-made canned jams and pickles – made from the heart.
Too, Doctors Rushing (general examination), Harriman (mastectomy), Durst (reconstructive surgery), Fanning (family practice), and Falkenburg (oncology radiation) and their staff have been amazing as well. Special thanks also to Huntsville Hospital Neurology and Orthopedic Spine floors and the Hospice Family Care for their unwavering compassion and care during Ann’s cancer battle and last moments. Huntsville is lucky to have these skilled professionals always ready to serve. It is so comforting to know they are here for us. God Bless them all.
Sympathy and laudatory-life comments may be posted at the Laughlin Service Funeral Home website, www.laughlinservice.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Russel Hill Cancer Foundation, 3601 CCI Dr. NW, Huntsville, AL 35805 or online (https://russelhill.org/).
