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By Bonnie Bartel Latino

Columnist

Atmore’s 2011 Hall of Fame posthumously inducted Toad Wise Albert in recognition of her football achievements at Atmore High, now E.C.H.S. However, her core legacy can be found in her three daughters, who grew up to be independent, joyful, hard-working women and in her seven grandchildren, plus 22 great grands. It was also to be found in her 46-year marriage to her husband and business partner Tony Albert, as well as in her devotion to the Roman Catholic Church. Among her best friends was the Albert’s neighbor, Fr. James J. Boland, the beloved Catholic priest, who served the parish from 1960-1970, and for whom Boland Hall, was named.

Toad and Tony’s first born, Atmore native, Susan Albert Moorhead, remembers her mama for her love of all people and her “ … tender heart. Mama cried at Miss America pageants on TV.” Rita Albert Peterson, who has spent her adult life in Murfreesboro, TN, was the Albert’s middle daughter. Rita also believes their mama’s best attribute was how much she loved all people. Rita added, “And she could never stay mad at us. She’d always end up laughing.” Luverne Toni Albert McMurphy best remembers their mama’s outgoing personality with her daughters’ friends as well as her own. All three sisters independently said their mama “Never met a stranger.” 

Like their mother, Susan was an athlete. While Toad played football and became an avid golfer Susan and Pam Middleton, formerly of Atmore, were State Doubles Tennis Champs in high school, where Susan cheered for the Blue Devils. Currently teaching at  Byrneville Elementary Charter School in Century, FL., Mrs. Moorhead is in her 47th year of teaching! (That’s not a typo.)  Susan married Doug Moorhead, who has since passed away. He and Susan shared four daughters Mandy, Katie, Christina, and Liz, all now married with children.

Mandy and Scott Ware dwell in Helena, AL. Mandy works as a Pain Management Nurse in Birmingham. The Wares children include Mallory 22, Maddie 21, and Owen 15.

Katie and Chapman Maxwell live in their native Atmore. Katie is a pharmacist for the Porch Band of Creek Indians. Their three sons are Warner 15, Douglas 13, and William 10.

Christina and Dusty Godwin call the Byrneville area home. Christina has taught for seven years at Byrneville Elementary. The Godwin family includes Leia 22, Luke 16, Emma 14, and Tatum 10.

Liz and Greg Milam live in Hoover, Alabama with their two sons, Oliver four and Marshall (aka Marsh) age two. After working in main-stream jobs, the Milams opened BOW WOW, a booming canine business in Hoover.

Like her mother and sister Susan, Rita Albert Peterson has always been athletic. First as a high school cheerleader here at ECHS and later, for 17 years as an Occupational Physical Education teacher at elementary and middle schools in Tennessee. Rita, Susan and daughter Christian have combined to teach school for a total of 71 years! (Also, not a typo.) Rita and her husband, Steve Peterson, who died in 2020, had three adult, now married children, including Jill Peterson Wright, a recreational therapist at Tennessee State Veterans Home in Murfreesboro. She  and her husband Morgan have four kids: Hayden 20, Noah 18, Sara Kate 15,  Pete 10. Jenny Peterson East, who is a Certified Public Account and her spouse, Brock, have three off-spring Harper 14, Hadley 12, and Tuck age eight. The Peterson’s son, John, is a district manager for BSN, one of the USA’s largest manufacturers and distributors of sporting equipment. He and wife Miranda have three children Bryce 12, Brooks eight, and Ansley, four.

Toni Luverne Albert McMurphy, the Albert’s third daughter, like her mama was a Girl Scout leader. She also shared her mama’s middle name, Luverne, and like her mama, she never uses it. She lives in the house she grew up in on S. Trammell Street, near the Catholic Church, where the girls’ mama always made certain they attended Mass on Sundays and weekly Catechism classes. Toni works as Realtor Assistant at Southern Realty. Married to Atmore native Joe McMurphy for 27 years, she adores his daughter and son, Sandi and Chad McMurphy.

Toad Wise Albert’s core legacy is found in her devotion to her family, her church, and in her the DNA of her daughters, as well as in her multitude of grandchildren, and great grandchildren whom she never met.