The death of George Albert “Al” Shipman, a prominent Troy accountant, has stunned and saddened the Troy community.

Shipman died in a one vehcile accident at 11:20 p.m. Friday on Alabma Highway 223 about a mile east of Banks.

Shipman was a partner in Haisten Shipman and Wiggins in Troy.

Allen Phillips, a longtime friend, said he met Shipman at Troy State College in 1979 and they became close friends.

“We were two single accountants here in Troy and we kept the Country Kitchen in business,” Phillips said. “We ate there at least once a day.”

Shipman introduced Allen and Joy Phillips and Phillips said he will always be indebted to him for that.

“Al and I were as thick as thieves until we both got married,” Phillips said. “Then life kind of got in the way. But Al was as good a gold. He was the kind of friend that you knew would be there. That was never a question.

“Al was the kind of person that, even if you never had to ask for a favor, you knew that, if you did, it was done. You could not have asked for a better friend.”