Mr. Elliott Lee Abernethy, Jr., passed away peacefully after an extended illness on June 16, 2025. He was born in Newton, NC on August 16, 1944. He was preceded in death by son, Ryan Meade Abernethy, and parents, Elliott Lee (Sr.) and Margie Kaylor Abernethy. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Dr. Sharron Gray Abernethy; son, Damon Lee Abernethy and wife, Miranda; chosen family, Sarah and Andrew Watson, III, and their daughters, Harper Grace, Elizabeth Bryn, and Charlotte Collier Watson, Elliott’s chosen granddaughters.
Mr. Abernethy was an alumnus of Fishburne Military School, Waynesboro, VA (1963), and after recovery from a serious boating accident, he completed his education at The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (1972), where he met Sharron, the love of his life. His concentrations were educational psychology and political science.
Upon graduation he started his career at Bryce Hospital, Tuscaloosa, AL. Six years later he joined Roadway Express in Memphis, TN. Thereafter, there were assignments in three additional states. While in Pittsburgh, PA he was one of twelve people selected to develop and implement a start-up Roadway Package System which was later acquired by FedEx Corporation, Memphis, TN. At the time of his retirement from FedEx Corporation in 2008 he was Managing Director, Worldwide Services.
Elliott was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church, Huntsville, AL, and proud supporter of Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega, AL. He was also active in various local civic projects.
Nothing was more important to him than his loving wife, Sharron, his sons, Damon and Ryan, and the many friends who were like family. He enjoyed world travel, Alabama football, golf with Sharron, and time with his granddaughters.
A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 307 Gates Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35801 on Friday, June 27, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., with visitation preceding the service at 1:00 p.m. in the Gideon Blackburn House directly across the street. Private burial will be at Huntsville Memory Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Presbyterian Home for Children, PO Box 577, Talladega, AL 35161-9975 (https://phfc.org/donate/).
