Thomas Freddie Bagwell

Thomas Freddie Bagwell, son of the late Tommie Lee Bagwell and Eva Gilmer Bagwell, was born on April 28, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. Freddie and his parents moved to Sulligent in 1932. He graduated from Sulligent High School in 1947 and received a football scholarship and attended the University of Alabama. He remained a loyal Crimson Tide fan for the remainder of his life. Upon returning home to Sulligent, he married his high school sweetheart, Ann, and began managing his father‘s business. Freddie was drafted into the US Army in 1952 and served 17 months in Ettlingen, Germany as a radio operator. In 1955, he and his family moved to Birmingham, Alabama where he began working for an industrial business for a short period. Then, in 1956, he launched his career as a houseware and audio sales rep for General Electric Company. After receiving countless sales awards throughout the years, he retired from GE in 1989. In the 1980s Freddie was voted into the Lamar County Athletic Hall of Fame for his contributions to sports at Sulligent High School. Freddie was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Center Point and served as a deacon until the church building was sold. He was an active member of Liberty Baptist Church in Chelsea, Alabama, pastored by Brother Tim Cox. In addition to his parents, Freddie was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Pennington Bagwell; his second wife, Rilla Speed Bagwell; and his son, Thomas Freddie Bagwell, Jr (Tom). He is survived by his daughter, Leigh Bagwell Woodruff; granddaughter, Abigail Woodruff; stepdaughter, Sharon Gallant (Rick); step- grandchildren, Brent Girardeau, Alicia Girardeau, Rachael Clark (Rick), Ashley Gallant Taylor (Clay), five step-great-grandchildren, one nephew, Steve Pennington (Donna); nieces, Tutti Johnson (Jimmy), Beth Wilker (John), Melissa Brown (Lynn), Olivia Dunaway (Bill) and Mary Egger (Donald). A service of celebration will be officiated by Pastor Ryan Whitley at Deerfoot Memorial Funeral Home in Trussville, Alabama on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 11:00 AM. There will be a period of visitation from 10:00 AM until the service time at 11:00 AM. Burial and graveside service will follow in the Sulligent City Cemetery at 800 Wolf Road Sulligent, Alabama 35586. Floral arrangements are welcome and appreciated. For those who wish, memoriam donations may also be made in honor of Freddie Bagwell to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Jimmy Hale Mission.

Thomas Freddie Bagwell

April 28, 1929 - February 21, 2026