Rena Alice Pope Underwood joined the Lord on Tuesday, September 23, 2014.
Funeral services will be held from First Baptist Church on Friday, September 26 at 11:00 with the Reverend Dr. Jay Wolf officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.
She is survived by two sisters, Blanche Pope Champion and her husband, Thomas Dunn Champion; and Ann Pope Wood and her husband, Eugene Gibney Wood;
Two brothers, George Wilkie Pope, Jr., and his wife, Terry Parker Pope; and Dr. David Hyatt Pope and his wife, Kathleen Bates Pope;
A daughter, Lucie Underwood McLemore;
Three sons, John Lewis Underwood, II; Kenneth Wilder Underwood, III and his wife, Nancy Harris Underwood; and George Wilkie Underwood and his wife, Linda Anderson Underwood;
Eight grandchildren, Grace McLemore Jeter and her husband, Jeffery Dale Jeter; Lucie McLemore Amberg and her husband, Richard Hiller Amberg, III; Lawrence Underwood McLemore and his wife, Josephine Mitchell McLemore; Joseph Wilder Underwood; Alice Underwood Bryant and her husband, Jason Jennings Bryant; Rena Underwood Brown and her husband, Joshua David Brown; Macy Underwood Dickinson and her husband, David Charles Dickinson; and George William Underwood;
And five great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, Kenneth Wilder Underwood, Jr.; her father, George Wilkie Pope; and her mother, Sabra Floyd Pope. Rena was born March 28, 1929 in Luverne.
She graduated from Sidney Lanier High School and the Academy of Charm in Atlanta and, before her marriage, was a John Robert Powers model. She attended Huntingdon College.
She was a member of Junior League of Montgomery, Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames, Daughters of the American Colonists, U.S. Daughters of 1812, the Alabama Historical Research Society, and Old South Historical Society and was the Organizing Senior Society President for Isaac Ross Society, Children of the American Revolution.
Rena's faith in her Lord was the stronghold of her life. Raised in the Baptist Church, after her marriage she joined St. John's Episcopal Church, where she served on the vestry. She was a member of First Baptist Church during the last years of her life.
Pallbearers will be Lawrence Underwood McLemore, Joseph Wilder Underwood, George William Underwood, Jeffery Dale Jeter, Joshua David Brown, Jason Jennings Bryant, and David Charles Dickinson.
Honorary pallbearers will be Andrew Hails, Walter T. Ashurst, Jr., Robert Boyd, Francis Beaulieu, Thomas D. Champion, Warner Floyd, Dudley W. Griffin, Edward T. Hails, Sr., Richard "Dick" Madison, Sr., John Floyd McNeal, W. M. "Pete" Russell, John "Bubba" Trotman, Eugene G. Wood, Daniel Pope, Kenneth Hayes, Ewell Green, Frederick "Pete" Schaum, III, and the Reverend Albert D. Perkins, III.
The family will receive friends on Friday at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church and immediately following services at the home of Larry and Josie McLemore, 2081 Myrtlewood Drive.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions should be directed to Huntingdon College.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.leak-mc.com.
Published in the Montgomery Advertiser on Sept. 25, 2014.