Belle Alexander

CLEVELAND - Belle McDonald Alexander, 85, died Thursday, April 11, 2013, at her home in Cleveland. Visitation will be held at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 14, 2013 at Ray Funeral Home and a second visitation will be held at 10:00-11:00 a.m. Monday, April 15, 2013 at the First Baptist Church. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church in Cleveland. Burial will follow in New Cleveland Cemetery. Ray Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Born and raised on the McDonald family farm in Rankin and Simpson counties, she graduated from Terry High School and Mississippi College, and then began teaching English in Drew. She later taught English at Cleveland High and worked at Cleveland State Bank. She furthered her education at Delta State University, earning Master of Education and Educational Specialist degrees. She served for many years as a guidance counselor and instructor at Bayou Academy and later at Delta State University, from which she retired.
She was a faithful member of First Baptist Church in Cleveland for 63 years. She was also a member of the Cleveland Garden Club and served as chairman of the Pearman Elementary PTA. She enjoyed gardening, reading, cooking and entertaining in her home. She was co-author, with her late daughter Becky Alexander, of "Shout it in the Light," the story of her daughter's battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, William B. Alexander; her daughter, Rebecca Alexander; and a grandson, Will Alexander.
Survivors include three sons, William Brooks Alexander III of Mobile (Cathy), Ala., John Marshall Alexander (Melissa) of Oxford and Jason McDonald Alexander (Chakiras) of Cleveland; a daughter, Grace Alexander Bluerock of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; a sister, Jane M. Lindsey of Vicksburg; a brother, Karei McDonald of Florence; grandchildren, Matthew and Walton Alexander of Mobile, Ala., Andrew and Rebecca Bluerock of Murfeesboro, TN., Marshall, Amanda, William, and Angela Alexander all of Oxford, Alan Nippert of Del Rey Beach FL., Nicole Nippert of New Orleans LA, Jessica Nippert of Memphis, TN.
Pallbearers will be Matthew Alexander, Walton Alexander, Marshall Alexander, William Alexander, Andrew Bluerock, and Alan Nippert.

First Visitation

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Sunday, April 14, 2013
Ray Funeral Home 206 Bishop Road Cleveland, Mississippi, United States

Service Information

11:00 am Monday, April 15, 2013
First Baptist Church. 101 N Bolivar Cleveland, Mississippi, United States

Interment Information

New Cleveland Cemetery N Bayou Cleveland, Mississippi, United States