Ted Jennings spent his life to help others

Ted Jennings spent the majority of his life trying to help others, whether it was as a pharmacist, a city councilman or mayor. The former Brewton mayor died Monday, Jan. 20, while on vacation in Georgia.

Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Brewton First United Methodist Church. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at the church.

A native of Brewton, Jennings, 75, was a 1961 graduate of T.R. Miller High School where he played football, baseball, basketball and ran track.

He went to Auburn University and was a member of the 1965 graduating pharmacy class. He returned to Brewton to work with his father at Jennings Pharmacy, which later became Jennings Hospital Pharmacy. He later worked as a pharmacist for D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital.

In 1986 Jennings was appointed to the Brewton City Council to fill the vacancy created by the death of Councilman Leon Brooks Hines. In 1988 Jennings was elected mayor of Brewton and held the position until he stepped down in 2012.

Even after his elected political career ended, Jennings continued to be involved as a consultant for the Alabama League of Municipalities and represented municipal issues across the entire state and even to Washington, D.C.

"He figured out early on that it was the people who made a community," said his son David Jennings. "He knew it was people who galvanized a community, not the political leaders."

David said during his father's 24 years as mayor he confided in a lot of people to get sound advice on how best to make Brewton better for everyone.

"Tom Neal and Jim Hart were some of the ones he leaned on a lot," David said. "He spent a lot of time with Bob McMillan and Jack Hines and they would bounce ideas off of each other. My daddy loved this town. He governed for everybody."

"He will leave a void in this town," David added.

Brewton Mayor Yank Lovelace, who followed Mayor Jennings, said Brewton will forever be grateful for the leadership he provided.

"Ted was an able leader from the very first day he was appointed to the city council and followed that with more than two decades of sound decisions as mayor," Lovelace said. "He was able to guide the city to a very sound financial place, even as other cities floundered."

"Through his carefully built connections at the state and federal level, he elevated our city's profile and helped start the renewal in our downtown that continues to this very day," Lovelace said. "I counted him as a friend and wise counsel, that's one reason our park downtown bears his name. Brewton will never forget his leadership and all he did for the people here."

"What an amazing legacy he leaves us all," Lovelace added. "I will never forget Ted Jennings and the example of leadership and public service he set."

Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant Jr., said he was related to Jennings through marriage and has known him long before either ventured into politics.

"Ted and I really never compared notes in terms of our positions as mayor," Bondurant said. "But he was always good to me. I always thought he did a good job running the city and the people of Brewton are lucky to have had him."