DOTHAN. . .Gayle Shirley Bullard, a resident of Montgomery, formerly of Dothan, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, April 19, 2026, in Montgomery. She was 75. A lifelong resident of Dothan, Gayle moved to Montgomery several years ago to be near her daughter.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in the First Baptist Church of Dothan with Dr. Taylor Rutland and Reverend Bob Gross officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M. Wednesday in the church sanctuary. A private graveside service for the family will be in Memory Hill Cemetery. Holman-Headland Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Dothan, 300 West Main Street, Dothan, AL. 36301 or to the Dr. Ted Watson Bullard Endowed Scholarship Fund, c/o Office of Advancement, College of Veterinary Medicine, 317 South College Street, Auburn, AL 36849-5517.
Gayle Bullard was born on August 27, 1950 and was a graduate of Dothan High School and the University of Alabama where she received a full academic scholarship. While at the University, she was selected as a Crimson Girl and had the honor of being Bob Hope’s personal guide on his visit to The Capstone. She also had the unique opportunity to work alongside the legendary Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant in the Athletic Department. Gayle was a lifetime member of First Baptist Church of Dothan and was very active in the Barbara Cook Bible Study Group. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Ted Watson Bullard and her parents, William Parish “Bill” Shirley and Inez Gamble Shirley.
Gayle and her husband, Dr. Ted Bullard, shared the opportunity to live in Saudi Arabia for several years where Ted served as the Chief Veterinarian for King Faisal, taking care of the cast of Royal Falcons which were so special to the King. While living there, Gayle worked in administration at the King Faisal Hospital. Upon returning to the United States, Gayle resumed her career in administration at the Social Security Office in Dothan where she was a blessing to so many in her field of expertise. She later served as Office Manager for her sister, Ann Holman, at Holman-Whatley & Associates, a role she served faithfully until she retired to spend time with her precious and beloved grandchildren.
She leaves to cherish her memory her daughters, Lynsey Anne Wood (Russ) of Montgomery; and Carla Riley (Scott) of Dothan; four grandchildren, Ruston Ryan Wood, Jr., Watson Semmes Wood, and Anna Gayle Wood all of Montgomery; Davis Watson Riley of Washington, D.C.; a sister, Ann Shirley Holman, Dothan; a nephew, Dr. W. Russell Holman, III of Birmingham; a special Aunt, Betty Gamble Mitchell of Dothan, formerly of Headland; and her beloved and devoted caretakers, Melanie Faulk of Clayton, alongside Kimberly Smith of Montgomery.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Dr. W. Russell Holman, III, Scott Riley, Russ Wood, Ruston Wood, Watson Wood, Davis Riley, Dr. J. Paul Maddox and Dr. Ted Williams. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the Barbara Cook Sunday School Class and Dr. Dan Denney, Marty Howard and Dr. John Wessner.
HOLMAN-HEADLAND MORTUARY & CREMATIONS IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS. Phone 334-693-3371. You may sign a guest register at www.holmanmortuaries.com. This establishment does not own a crematory.
