MARION &8212; Longtime Alabama educator and community leader, Dr. Twynette Wells Watson Yeager, of Marion died April 20, 2008, in Huntsville. Services will be at 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 22, 2008, in Marion at Siloam Baptist Church, where she was a member for more than 45 years. Dr. David Potts, Dr. Earl Tew, and Mark Tew will be officiating and Kirk Funeral Homes Marion Chapel will be directing. Burial will be at 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 23, 2008, in her hometown of Atmore at Oak Hill Cemetery with Dr. Norman McCrummen officiating.

Her husband, Thomas B. Yeager, her parents and her sisters, Mrs. Melvin Nall and Mrs. Henry Love, preceded Yeager in death.

Yeager is survived by her two sons, William B. Watson Jr. and wife, Mary Elizabeth, of Huntsville and Bryon W. Watson and wife, Jean, of Newbern; daughter, Karen W. Thomas and husband, John, of Huntsville; stepdaughter, Susan Y. Wilbourne and husband, Perry, of Foley, eight grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Yeager was born on Feb.18, 1924, in Atmore to the Rev. O.E. and Betty Lee Webb Wells. She graduated from Howard College (Samford University) and received her masters and doctorate degrees in Education from the University of Alabama.

She began her career at First Baptist Church in Atmore where she was director of religious education. After serving as guidance counselor at Selma High School, Yeager became director of admissions at Judson College. From 1962-1989, she held the positions of professor of education, chair of the department of education, acting academic dean, and dean of students.

After retirement, Yeager entered public service and spent eight years on the Marion City Council. Other involvements were the Perry County Chamber of Commerce, the Alabama-Tom Big bee Commission on Aging, Alabama Historical Commission, Marion City Board as Director of Curriculum Projects, Marion Academy Board, Board of Directors of Seeds of Hope, and the Committee of Humanities in Alabama.

Of her many awards and recognitions, Yeager received the Alabama Volunteer of the Year Award, Samford University School of Business Distinguished Alumni Award, Honorary member of Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame, and the AAA Silver Star Award from the Associates of Alabama Agencies on Aging. She is listed in Who&8217;s Who in the South and Southeast Outstanding Educators of America, Who&8217;s Who in Alabama, and Who&8217;s Who of American Women. She was the first woman to serve on the Radio and Television Commission of the Southeast Baptist Convention.

Yeager will be remembered as &8220;Twink&8221; by her family and friends and by hundreds of her students as an honorary &8220;Judson Girl.&8221;

Active pallbearers will her grandsons and nephews, Kevin Watson, Wells Watson, David Watson, David Boykin, Lec Pilleteri, Chad Eads, Billy Lamb, Henry Love Jr. and Mel Nall.

Honorary pallbearers are Roy Barnett, John Anderson, Dr. William Shane Lee, M.D., Corin Harrison, Marion Mayor Anthony Long, Dr. Paul Reitzer and former Mayor of Marion, Edward Daniel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Dr. Twynette Yeager&8217;s memory to O.E. Wells and Twynette Wells Watson Yeager Scholarship Fund at Judson College, 302 Bibb Street Marion, AL, 36756, and Hospice Family Care, 3304 West mill Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805, or the American Cancer Society, Post Office Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123-1718.