Mrs. Frances Pearson Alexander

Frances Reagor Pearson Alexander, 88, a long-time resident of Shelbyville and member of the First Christian Church, died on September 10, in Farragut, Tennessee, where she had lived in recent years. Born on April 7, 1925, in Shelbyville as the youngest of three daughters of Charles Newton Pearson and Ethel Reagor Pearson, she grew up on Jersey Dale Farm, about four miles outside of town on the Fayetteville Highway. Her life took a tragic turn in 1957 when her husband, Erskine McKaja Alexander, Jr., died suddenly of a heart attack, leaving her to raise two young boys on her own. Using secretarial and communications skills she picked up at Shelbyville Central High School, Bowling Green College of Business and later Motlow State Community College, she held several jobs over the years, working for the First Christian Church, a hosiery mill, the state's welfare office in Shelbyville, a walking-horse supply store and, finally, the Webb School in Bell Buckle. A life-long lover of horses, she rode in the first Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in 1939. This year was the first time she ever missed the Celebration's Grand Championship class. She was also preceded in death by sisters Sarah Pearson Lewis and Zadie Pearson Foster, brothers-in-law John Holliday Lewis and Paul Foster and sisters-in-law Mary Margaret Alexander, Geraldine Sorrells Alexander and Dr. Betty Masters Alexander. She is survived by her two sons, Charles Pearson Alexander and wife Cathy of Brooklyn, NY, and William Brent Alexander and wife Nancy of Knoxville, TN; three grandsons, Brian Burkons Alexander and wife Kailin Husayko of Brooklyn, Kevin Pearson Alexander of Brooklyn and William Brent Alexander, Jr. of Knoxville; and a granddaughter, Mary McClain Alexander of Knoxville. Other survivors include a brother-in-law, The Rev. Ben Cooper Alexander of Hendersonville, TN; two nephews, Calvin Pearson Lewis and wife Mary of Nashville, TN and John Holliday Lewis, Jr. and wife Carol of Suamico, WI; two nieces, Mary Catherine Alexander Koen and husband Tommy of Hendersonville and Margaret Anne Alexander Feasley and husband William of Takoma Park, MD; and five grandnephews and one grandniece. A memorial service will be held at the First Christian Church on Sunday, September 29 at 2 p.m. Visitation will begin at the church at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church, PO Box 466, Shelbyville, TN 37160.

Mrs. Frances Pearson Alexander

April 7, 1925 - September 10, 2013