OBITUARY

Donnell Tabbs, age 61, of Red Bay, AL, passed away on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at North AL Medical Center in Florence, AL.  Funeral services will be held on Sunday, August 20, 2023 from the Otts Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow in New Church Cemetery.  Bro. Bill Marchbanks to officiate.  Visitation will be held at the funeral home prior to the funeral service from 12:00pm until 1:00pm.

Pallbearers: Anthony Williams, Patrick Tabbs, Christopher Westbrook, Jack Tabbs,

Chris Ashley, and Bo Self

Donnell was born on August 19, 1961 in Amory, MS to Mae Ola Williams Westbrook.  He attended Sulligent High School and at a young age was a member of the Allman Chapel CME Church.  He worked as a logger, construction worker, and at manufacturing jobs in Detroit, Hamilton, Red Bay and Huntsville, AL.  Donnell loved to travel, loved boxing, actually having pursued a boxing career at one time.  He enjoyed watching and making fun of scary movies, and loved listening to music and singing, always thinking of himself as the next Rick James, especially when you have heard his version of "SuperFreak" a million times.  He also was a songwriter and for those who were really close to him, he would sing a snippet of his songs he wrote, like one of his best hits, "Fanny Wanny Stanking", lol.  He loved his family, especially his mama, she was his best friend and they talked several times a day to just to make sure each of them were doing ok.  He loved his grandmother also very much and loved getting to speak on the phone with his brothers and sisters and family making sure everyone knew how much he cared for them.  Donnell liked to go the casino, doing a lot of scratch-off tickets, and enjoyed cooking and going fishing.  He never met a stranger and made friends with anybody he could and always stayed true to himself loving all people and helping them in any way he could.  Donnell was a God-fearing man who believed in the Lord and always kept a prayerful spirit and his tender, loving heart will forever be cherished and missed.

Survived By:

Wife: Shevelle Tabbs, Red Bay, AL

Stepfather: Billy (Mae) Westbrook, Red Bay, AL

Siblings: Gloria (Onnie Lee) Willingham, Hamilton, AL,

Anthony (Rhonda) Williams, Somerville, AL, Patrick Tabbs, Hanford,CA,

Christopher (Rhonda) Westbrook, Hot Springs, AR,

Dianna (Chris) Westbrook, Madison, AL, Billy (Jessica) Westbrook, Tremont, MS,

Brianna Westbrook, Madison, AL, Bradley Westbrook, Peoria, KS,

Angela (Steve) Willingham, Beaverton, AL,

Diane Bester, Tuscaloosa, AL, Loretta Stamps, Tuscaloosa, AL,

Aunt: Ada Rush, Hamilton, AL

Host of Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, and other Family and Friends

Preceded In Death By:

Mother: Mae Ola Williams Westbrook

Uncles: Raymond Williams, Bluther Williams, Oliver Williams,

Leon Williams, Luther Williams

Aunt: Dorothy Andrews

Siblings: Gladys Tabbs Wallace, Joseph O'Neal Tabbs, Wade Tabbs, and infant Triplets

Condolences and special memories may be shared with the family at: www.ottsfuneralhome.net

Otts Funeral Home

Sulligent, AL, Directing