Mrs. “Avon” Nellie Croley Pope Simmons, age 94 of Andalusia passed away Sunday, May 8, 2011, in Huntsville where she had resided for the past few years to be near her daughter.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 11, at Keahey Funeral Home Chapel. Eulogies were given by her special

friends, Alan Cotton, John Croft and Kym Keahey. Harmonica music was performed by Tripp Bass. Interment followed in Stone Lake Gardens Cemetery with Keahey Funeral Home directing.

Survivors included, daughter, Felicia Ann Pope of Huntsville, Ala.; a special friend, Sherry Ammons, Huntsville, Ala.; nieces, Janice Gardner of Oxford, Johnette Day of Oxford, Phyllis Day of Pell City, Linda Herron of Hayden, Ala., and Dot Sexton; nephews, John Croley of Mobile, Robert Croley of Greenville andWilliam Sims of Georgiana; and a large host of friends.

Serving as pallbearers were Randy Keahey, R.J. Keahey, Chris Cotton, Harold Carpenter, Johnny Croft, and Dennis Bond.

Mrs. “Avon” Nellie as her name well implied, was Andalusia’s face for Avon for more than 53 years. During the 1980s, she worked part time for the City of Andalusia Welcome Committee, delivering gift certificates from local merchants to newcomers of Andalusia. In her friendly spirit she was continually cultivating more and more Avon customers. Mrs. Nellie was a friend to anyone she met and a top sales lady for the Avon Company for many, many years. Through out the years, she was recognized for her sales achievements, among some of her more prestigious accolades, she was named, Avon Best of the Best, No. 1 in Sales Increase; Avon Best of the Best, No. 1 in Sales Volume; Avon District Achievement Award, No. 1 in Total Sales; Avon Sales Excellent Award, Spirit of Avon Award; Team Leader Award; Avon Honor Society Awards and the Avon Miss Albee Award, named for the first Avon representative, Mrs. Albee. The Miss Albee Award was one of the most prestigious awards for club members. This award was presented to sales agents who portrayed exceptional pride, dedication, purpose, spirit and strength,  all qualities which well describe Mrs. Avon Nellie. Mrs. Nellie won trips to Jamaica and Hawaii and other resort locations, which she and her best friend, Bea Miller enjoyed together.

Keahey Funeral Home (334) 222-8440, was in charge of the arrangements. You may sign our guestbook for this family at www.keaheyfuneralhome.com