Mike Moody

John Milton "Mike" Moody passed away at Baptist Medical Center East in Montgomery on June 7, 2020, after a month-long battle with COVID-19. He was 76 years old. A private graveside service was held for Mr. Moody at 11 AM on Wednesday, June 10th, in Luverne Emmaus Cemetery with Rev. Joe Bullington officiating and Turners Funeral Home of Luverne directing.

Mike was born in Luverne, AL, and lived the majority of his life in Alabama, the state he was proud to call home.

Mike was an easy going, happy person who always managed to be the life of the party wherever he went. He always enjoyed a good conversation, and stood strong on what he believed. A natural-born storyteller, Mike could talk your ear off about any one of his many passions, and you'd never once feel the urge to check your watch. These passions could range from motorcycles, to the music of the 1950s and 60s. Mike was a talented amateur magician, and was always happy to pull out one of his favorite tricks. Mike also had the kindest smile and a contagious laugh.

Mike followed a varied career path throughout his adult life. He held an impressive variety of jobs -- everything from Disc Jockey and Operations Manager at a radio station (WDJC in Birmingham), to selling ceiling fans, to owning & operating his own ice cream parlor, to working at a maximum security prison -- before earning his Master's Degree from Troy State University in 1990 and settling into his true calling as a Licensed Professional Counselor. Mike finally retired just last year after spending 15 years at Associated Psychologists in Montgomery, where he helped an untold number of families and young people by doing what he did best: being a great talker and an even better listener.

Mike's singular storytelling skills also helped him complete two excellent memoirs -- Mules in the Fastlane (about his childhood misadventures growing up in and around his parents' Mom & Pop grocery store) and Life's a Trip ... Expect Falls! (about his college years and beyond), an impressive feat for which he was rightfully proud.

Mike Moody is survived by two daughters, Ashley (Joel) Reader of Dedham, Massachusetts and Crystal Moody of Pauma Valley, California; two granddaughters, MaKayla Moody and Vox Vivienne Reader; a sister, Jean (Don) Sasser of Troy, Alabama; two nephews, Scott Sasser of Montgomery, Alabama and Chris (Kim) Sasser of Goshen, Alabama; two great-nieces, Hailey Sasser and Peyton Sasser; and many more family members and friends that he cherished. He was crazy about all of them, and wasn't shy about letting them know, for which they are eternally grateful. He will be incredibly missed.