Opal Wanda Long

Opal Wanda Long, 78, of Smiths Station, Alabama, passed away on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, at Orchard View in Columbus, Georgia.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 pm, Friday October 22, 2021, at Vance Brooks Funeral Home, Phenix City, Alabama with Reverend Jimmy Boone officiating. The internment will be held at Lakeview Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends Friday from 12:00 pm until 1:00 pm at the funeral home.

Wanda was born on August 1, 1943, in Ozark, Alabama, the daughter of Eston and Pauline Dixon. Mr. Dixon passed away at an early age. Mrs. Dixon would later marry Mr. Fred Barber. Wanda would marry Mr. Donald Long in 1961. Wanda worked at The Fieldcrest Store where she retired after 20 years of service. She then worked and retired from the Russell County Tag Office after 10 years of service. Wanda was a hard-working Christian woman, and member of Mount Zion United Methodist Church. She was a devoted mother and grandmother. Wanda loved flowers, feeding the birds and the squirrels, visiting friends, shopping, and her daily phone calls with her sister Dillie. She also loved spending time with her grandchildren and being aggravated by her son-in-laws. Wanda was also an avid ROLL TIDE fan. She passed along her good work ethics to her daughters, along with how to be good mothers, loving, and self-sufficient. Wanda will always be remembered for the way she lived her life to the fullest.

She is preceded in death by husband, Donald Long; father, Eston Dixon; mother, Pauline Barber; and stepfather, Fred Barber.

She is survived by two daughters, Kelly (Bob) Vinyard, and Lisa (Robbie) Taylor; sister, Dillie (Fort) Elliott; two granddaughters, Leslie (Max) Gaylor, and Kaylie (Zach) Adkins; grandson, Adam (Ashley) Vinyard; three great-granddaughters, Lowery Gaylor, Bristol Adkins and Charlotte Adkins; two great-grandsons, Cody Gaylor and Lincoln Adkins; special friends Eleanor Pledger and Gloria McKinnon; as well as several extended family and caring friends.