Marie Jan Wedgeworth (July 31, 1947 – August 30, 2026)

Marie Jan Wedgeworth, 79, of Northport, passed away August 30, 2026, at her home.

Services will be held on Friday, September 4, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Olive Baptist Church with Rev. Tim Tindle, Rev. Eric Boykin and Rev. Lindsey Watkins officiating and Magnolia Chapel South directing. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to the service.

She is preceded in death by her husband, William Arnold Wedgeworth; her parents Richmond Pearson Hobson and Alice Margaret Thrasher; and two infant siblings, a brother and sister.

Jan is survived by her son, Scot Wedgeworth (Michael Acton); sister Patricia Lynn (the late ML Lynn); a host of nieces and nephews; and her faithful companion, Cliff Montgomery, and family and friends through her relationship with Cliff. She became deeply connected to his family, who welcomed her into their lives and came to love her as their own. She is also survived by her fur baby, Banjo, and her two grand-dogs, Morroco and Mia, and the late Copper and Penelope.

Marie Jan Wedgeworth was a fighter in every sense of the word. For nearly 30 years, she faced cancer with a strength and determination that amazed those who knew her. Yet, despite all she endured, she rarely complained. Somehow, she always found a way to keep going, to find joy in each day, and to encourage the people around her. Her strength was not simply physical — it came from a deep and unbreakable faith in her Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jan lived her faith rather than simply speaking about it. She was a lifetime member of Mount Olive Baptist Church in Coker, Alabama, where she loved attending church and faithfully served through the women's kitchen ministry. Her love for Christ was evident in the way she treated people — with kindness, compassion, encouragement, and genuine concern. Throughout her life, countless people told her family that Marie had been an encouragement to them. She had a gift for making people feel better, stronger, and more hopeful simply by being there.

One of Jan's greatest joys was her son, Scot. She was immensely proud of him and of the career he built as an event designer. She was his number-one fan and supporter, celebrating his accomplishments and encouraging him every step of the way. Their relationship was one of deep love, pride, and companionship. Some of Scot's most treasured memories are the times he and his mother traveled the world together, sharing experiences, discovering new places, and making memories that he will carry with him for the rest of his life.

Jan also knew how to have fun. She loved traveling to car shows throughout the South, where she enjoyed looking at all the cars and especially enjoyed sitting down for a game of cards with Cliff, her sister Pat Lynn, and the late Eddie McCrory — simple times that became treasured memories because of the laughter and companionship they shared. Jan enjoyed thrifting, yard sales and estate sales that she always shared with her sister and best friend Pat. She also shared a love of Dolly Parton, Aerosmith and Tina Turner with her son Scot. And let us not forget her love of shoes.

Above all, Marie loved people. She had a remarkable ability to make others feel welcomed, valued, and loved. Her life was a testament to perseverance, faith, and the power of encouragement. She endured more than most people will ever know, yet she chose to live with grace, gratitude, and an unwavering trust in God.

Her family takes comfort in knowing that the faith she lived so openly was not in vain. Jan loved her Savior, and she lived her life in a way that made that love unmistakable. Her legacy will live on not only in the memories of those who loved her, but in the lives of the many people she encouraged along the way.

Pallbearers are Bart Lynn, Jr., Todd Bolton, Josh Lynn, Howie Wedgeworth, Dale Wedgeworth, Randel Grammer, Jim Hancock, Phillip Elmore and Bart Lynn, Sr.

Honorary pallbearers are the late Eddie McCrory and family, and Rev. Glenn Kennedy. She was surrounded and protected by a group of close church friends who have been angels on earth: George and Judy Evans, Margaret Hodo, Fay Phillips, Mary Kelley, Brenda Henson (and the late Stan Henson), and so many other special friends from the community and church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either of the following, that Jan regularly supported: Dolly Parton Imagination Library, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Shriners International, or Mt. Olive Baptist Church Women's Kitchen Ministry.