Gail Guidry

Brenda Gail Sweatman Guidry passed away under the loving and careful watch of her husband and two daughters on Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Mobile, Alabama. She was born in Ripley, Mississippi on June 5, 1947, to her mother LaVerne Mauldin Sweatman and father Clyde Herman Sweatman.

Gail was preceded in death by her parents Clyde and LaVerne of Mobile, Alabama, and by her sister Sue Sweatman. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Ronald Patrick Guidry; her daughters Laura (John) Guidry Sayers and Heather Guidry Hornsby of Mobile; her grandchildren Avery Kenner Sayers and Samuel Braxton Hornsby, also of Mobile; her sister Teresa (Nelson) Sweatman Farmer of Houston, Texas, and her nephews Blake Carlton Farmer of Seattle, Washington and Bryan (Lauren) Nelson Farmer of Houston, Texas; her brother-in-law Richard (Joan) Collins Guidry and nieces Lisa (Gus) Guidry Zader and Tina (Jason) Guidry Hooper; her sister-in-law Suzanne (Mark) Guidry Kobelja and niece Mary Margaret Kobelja and nephew Colin Andrew Kobelja, of Bethesda, Maryland; and other extended family. She is also survived by special, life-long friends who made her life all the fuller for being in it. She will be deeply missed by them all.

Gail was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She married Ronnie on September 26, 1970, and they raised their two daughters together in Mobile. Gail's first priority was always her family, and her daughters and grandchildren were her heart. She found immense joy in retirement in taking care of both Avery and Sam when her daughters returned to work. And Avery and Sam found a second home at Nana and Papa's house.

In earlier years, Gail was both a teacher and a real estate professional. She taught elementary school at St. Monica Catholic School and St. Vincent Catholic School, she sold houses as an agent for Marie McConnell realty and Roberts Brothers realty, and she worked as a real estate closing agent at Bay Title before retiring. After retiring, she enjoyed volunteering at Knollwood Hospital in Mobile. Through her example and words, she taught her daughters how to exhibit professionalism and, more importantly, along with Ronnie, she taught them that they could do anything in life that they put their minds to.

Gail also had a great love of reading and learning that she passed along to her girls and to Avery and Sam. After graduating from Davidson High School in 1965, Gail attended the University of South Alabama, where she was a charter member of AOPi sorority and studied English and Art History. She graduated in 1970. Her daughters continued in her footsteps when they graduated from South Alabama in later years, both having been members of AOPi.

Gail had an open mind and a giving heart. She gave generously to the needy regardless of whether she had the abundance to give and taught her daughters through example to do the same. She also firmly believed that what goes around comes around and she lived accordingly. She was fiercely honest and taught her girls that honesty was a necessary virtue. Gail had an innate ability to judge the character of others, and her relationships with her husband Ronnie and life-long friends is a testament to her own character.

Gail and Ronnie were true partners in this life, sharing both the good and bad through their 54 years together, as they vowed to do. When need-be, it was them against the world, and Gail fought fiercely on behalf of her husband and daughters. She gave of herself without hesitation. She assumed the role of caregiver many times over her lifetime and, with the help of Ronnie, took care of both of her parents in their final years. She instilled that sense of service in her daughters.

Gail was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church in Mobile, Alabama, where she attended Mass regularly and came to know Brenda Christian and Kay Rehm, who both were of great help this past year in helping Gail continue to practice her faith when attending Mass became too difficult. Gail had a deep faith and belief that communion with God in heaven awaits as does reunion with our loved ones when our time is done on this Earth.

Gail leaves behind a legacy of faith, charity, and love that lives on in her daughters and grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday, April 7, 2025, at 11 a.m. at St. Dominic Catholic Church after visitation in the Murphy Center at 10:00 a.m. Father Patrick Driscoll will be the celebrant. Interment will follow at the Alabama State Veterans' Memorial Cemetery at Spanish Fort.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Gail's honor to the Association for the Blind or the American Heart Association.