Nella Jean Byrd Alexander

Nella Jean Byrd Alexander, age 85 of Birmingham, died peacefully in her home of over 60 years on November 12, 2017. Nell is survived by her daughter Diane Milton (Tom), and her son Steve Alexander (Lisa), all of Birmingham; five grandsons - David Milton (Whitney) of Denver, CO, Daniel Milton of Melbourne, FL, Stephen Milton of Houston, TX, Adam Milton of New Orleans, LA, and Beau Stanger of Huntsville, AL; two granddaughters – Blaire Alexander of New York, NY and Reese Alexander of Birmingham, AL; by two great grandchildren Harper Milton and Nathaniel Milton of Denver, CO; and by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws. She is preceded in death by her mother Ollie Webb, sisters Lora Powell and Jimmye Lou McGinnis, her beloved daughter Deborah Alexander Stanger, and by her husband, soulmate, and high school crush Charles Houston Alexander. Nell was born on June 5, 1932 in Walker County, AL, to James Hansford Byrd and Ollie Honeycutt Byrd, and spent her childhood in Parrish, AL where she graduated from Parrish High School in 1950. After eloping to be married, she and Charles soon moved to Birmingham where they would live the rest of their lives and raise their family among their many friends on Garden Lane in Roebuck. In addition to excelling at motherhood, Nell’s early occupations included bookkeeping at Moore-Handley Hardware, floor sales at J.C. Penney, and interior decorating for Sherwin-Williams. After Charles’ death in 1986 she studied at Jefferson State and went on to work at the American Red Cross and to later retire after many years at the Celebrations Desk of The Birmingham News. Her retirement years remained busy with her grandchildren, with her devoted volunteer work at St. Vincent’s East Hospital, in delivering Meals on Wheels, and in living out her witness with her church family over a remarkable 60+ years at Huffman United Methodist Church where the family invites everyone on Saturday, November 18, 2017 to join them for a visitation at 10 a.m. prior to a funeral service at 11 a.m. All are welcome and encouraged to attend and celebrate Nell’s prolific life well lived. The family would ask that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Huffman United Methodist Church, 711 Gene Reed Road, Birmingham, AL 35235.

Nella Jean Byrd Alexander

June 5, 1932 - November 12, 2017