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Marian Lucille Accinno Loftin

Marian Accinno Loftin, died peacefully on December 22, 2025, surrounded by her family and many loved ones. Marian had a passion for serving others, particularly advocating for children and families. She leaves behind a legacy rooted in faith, friendship, and service and will long be remembered for her joy and light she brought to any room she walked into.

Marian was born on August 4, 1936, in Birmingham to the late Dr. Mario Accinno and Glenna Accinno. She was the oldest of 6 girls and graduated from John Carroll High School in Birmingham where she was recognized as outstanding Alumna in 2002, she then attended The University of Alabama where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Education and was involved in her sorority, Delta Zeta, Mortar Board, and Kappa Delta Pi Honorary. She was named Miss University of Alabama, where she marched with the Million Dollar Band under Colonel Carlton K. Butler and she looked forward to marching with the alumni band every fall. It was also at The University where she met and married her college sweetheart and love of her life, Jim Loftin (James David Loftin, Sr.). After 7 years in Birmingham, they moved to Dothan which Marian said was the perfect place to raise their children: Valerie, Jimbo, Courtney, and David.

She pursued her career in education and then earned a Master’s Degree in Education and Reading. After which, she continued her career as a classroom teacher for over 20 years. She had a love of teaching and particularly loved each of her students. One of her former students remembered Marian’s “infectious wit and clear concern re-ignited the idea that school might still be worth showing up for, taking part in.” Following her time in the classroom, she worked for The University of Alabama in External Affairs in the Dothan Regional Office, as Assistant Director of Government Relations on the Tuscaloosa campus and in Montgomery, then returned to Dothan as Executive Director of the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce. She left that position when the Governor appointed her Director of the State of Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention.

Marian was considered a “Guardian Angel of children and families all her life,” she did not do any of this for the recognition or accolades, but because of her passion.

In 1993, Marian learned about a one-stop shop for services for children and families in Florida and became a dedicated Founder and Board Member for the Alfred Saliba Family Services Center in Dothan. From that start and her dedication, there are now 26 centers throughout Alabama in the Alabama Network of Family Resource Centers (ANFRC). She was a co-founder of the Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center. In 2004, Governor Bob Riley appointed Marian Loftin to his Task Force to strengthen Alabama Families.

Throughout her life, Marian has served on various boards and committees, all of which were incredibly important causes and passions of hers, such as the founding Board of Directors of Dothan Parents Anonymous, Southeast Alabama Youth Services Board of Directors, the Houston County Juvenile Court Services Advisory Board, the Founding Board of the Corporate Foundation for Children, the Alabama Council on Adolescent Pregnancy State Advisory Board, the Founding Board of Directors of the Houston-Henry County Child Advocacy Center, the Children First Alliance of Alabama, the A+ Education Foundation, the Alabama Partnership for Children, and the Girl Scout Council of Southern Alabama, Chairman of the Dothan 2000 Committee, Past-President of the Sav-A-Life Wiregrass Pregnancy Center, VOICES for Alabama Children State Board, Trustee for Alabama Partnership for Families, the Alabama Governor’s Commission on Welfare Reform, Wiregrass United Way Board Chairman, the Advisory Boards of the Houston County Juvenile Court Service, the Southeast Alabama Youth Services, the American Heart Association State Affiliate Board, and the Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform Board of Directors.

In addition to board service, Marian was incredibly involved civically in the community in various ways. Marian was the first woman inducted into the Dothan-Houston County Rotary Club, where she was named a Paul Harris Fellow. She was one of the of the community Olympic Torch bearers as the Torch passed through Dothan enroute to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Those in Dothan at the time will remember her preparations for her torch run as she practiced running down her street with a baseball bat. Additionally, she was in Class XIII of Leadership Alabama, the XXXI, and the Anderson Society.

Marian was recognized with many accolades and honors for her advocacy and work. She was the first recipient of the Alabama Child Champion Lifetime Achievement Award, which now bears her name. She was also recognized with the “Woman of Vision Award” by Momentum, a Golden Eagle Award Honoree, the Capstone College of Education Society Outstanding Contribution to Education Award, the National Health and Human Services Commissioner’s Award for Outstanding Work in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect in Alabama, the Brock Serrill Memorial Award for Outstanding Community Service, Arthritis Foundation Humanitarian Award, American Heart Association Alabama Affiliate Lifetime Achievement Award, Community Leader of the Year by the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, The Henry and Julia Tutwiler Distinguished Service Award, and the ODK Summersell Award from The University of Alabama. She was inducted into The University of Alabama Educator Hall of Fame in 2014 and named Distinguished Alumna of The University of Alabama in 1988. In 1993, she was named Outstanding Alumna, Troy University-Dothan.

Marian’s faith was a pillar in her life. She was an active member of her home parish, St. Columba Catholic Church as a Sunday School Teacher, member of the Parish Council, a Parish renewal Leader, Eucharistic Minister, and Lay Lector. She and her husband Jim were members of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher serving as Knight and Lady Commander. Marian loved the Lord and sought opportunities to grow closer to Him daily. She also found deep connection to her sisters-in-Christ through her Tuscaloosa Reunion Group who were a source of encouragement through the years.

Marian was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Jim; sister, Carole Accinno Zanaty; daughter, Cameron Leigh Loftin; infant twin sons, Joseph James Loftin and Patrick Michael Loftin; her niece and nephews, Stacy Blevins Stovall, Jeremy Short, and Dean Short. Marian is survived by her daughter, Valerie Loftin Shevlin and her husband, Richard Shevlin, Jr.; James David Loftin, Jr., and his wife, Amy; Courtney Loftin; and David Mario Loftin and his wife, Patty; her grandchildren, Cameron Shevlin Foster and her husband, Benjamin; Elizabeth Loftin Michael and her husband, Seth; Richard Thomas Shevlin, III and his wife, Charlotte; Claire Loftin Hutto and her husband, John; David Mario Loftin, Jr.; and Marian James Loftin; her great-grandchild, Richard Thomas Shevlin, IV; sisters, Denise Short; Catherine Blevins and her husband, Steve; Janet Rubino; and Susan Holloway and her husband, Tommy; godchildren, Jonathon Kaz Espy; Debbie Lackey; Elanor “Frog” Michel; Beau Miller; Bryan Short; Dean Short; Lisa Smith; Blair Stankoski Harley; and Elsa Thornton Hoffman. Pallbearers will be Kaz Espy, Benjamin Foster, John Hutto, David Loftin, Jr., Seth Michael, Stan Scott, Richard Thomas Shevlin, III, and Alex Smith.

The family is incredibly thankful for the care and comfort provided to Marian for the past few months. Words cannot express our gratitude for Jackie Rogers, Karen Carter, Barbara Ross, and Miss Kim for your kindness and care during this time. The family is also appreciative of the care provided by Compassus-Birmingham Hospice.

The family will be available at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, December 29, 2025, prior to a Rosary service at St. Columba Catholic Church at 6:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., with Father Patrick Gallagher officiating. A private burial will be held at Memory Hill Cemetery. Glover Funeral Home will be directing.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Marian Accinno Loftin Endowed Scholarship Funds at The University of Alabama, or to a recent passion of Marian’s: UAB Huntington’s Disease Research – Dr. Victor Sung (contact: Megann Cane), or to a charity of your choice.