Deacon Talmadge Gene Merritte was born to the parentage of the late Talmadge Merritte and the late Irene Johnson Merritte Gilliland on August 24, 1940 in Calera, AL. He accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of First Baptist Church in Calera. He later was united in marriage to Louise Studimire Merritte and became a member of First Baaptist Church in Wilsonville. Talmadge was educated in the Shelby County School System and graduated in 1959 from Prentice Negro High School. He retired from Blue Circle in Calera, AL. He also worked for Alabama Dynamics and 50 years with Central State Bank. He was ahandy man throughout Shelby County. Talmadge departed this life on Monday April 24, 2017.He leaves to cherish his memories his devoted wife; Louise Studimire Merritte. Five sons; Roy Talmadge Merritte, Augusta, Ga, Steve Tolbert, Derrick merritte, Patrick (Michile) Wallace and Lesley (Anita) Smitherman; Three daughters, Michelle McClain, Gwendolyn Davis and Kisa (Joey ) Webb and a host of other relatives. Funeral service will be held Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Wilsonville with burial at Shelby Memory Gardens in Calera, AL.