Funeral services for Dr. Wallace Wayne Alford age 73 will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday from Calvary Baptist Church where he was a member with Rev. Chuck Williams officiating. Burial will follow in Ridgecrest Cemetery. Dr. Alford died Thursday at Jackson Madison County General Hospital. He was born on April 19 1931 in Brownsville Mississippi the son of the late Howard and Willia Carsley Alford. He attended grammar school in Canton MS and junior and senior high school in Startia MS. Dr. Alford earned his bachelor's degree in English and French and a Master's degree in English at Mississippi College. He received his Ph.D. in Education and English in May of 1965 from the George Peabody College of Education at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. His teaching experience includes junior and senior high school English and French; and 25 years of college teaching at the senior college and graduate level. In addition he has served as Division Chairman Department Head Division Coordinator at various senior colleges as well as Academic Dean at William Carey College in Hattiesburg MS and at Wayland Baptist College Plainview TX. In 1973 he was invited to join the faculty at Union University as chairman of the Division of Professional Studies and head of the Education Department. After a short "early retirement" in 1990-92 he returned to the ranks of college teaching at Lane College where he served as Professor of Speech and Theatre. Dr. Alford's many hobbies were acting and otherwise working in the theatre and writing for the stage. He has published numerous articles on various topics for national publications and is the author of one book and some 20-30 plays most of which were performed in area theatres. Dr. Alford's All Tied Up in Knots and its sequel All Tied Up in Knots II which played at the Little Theatre in the Civic Center in Jackson in 1985 and 1987 won recognition for him and director wife Pat from Governor Ned McWherter for their contributions to the education and culture of children in Tennessee. He was listed in Who's Who in the South and Southwest Who's Who in Education and Who's Who in College Administration. Dr. Alford was a U.S. Navy Veteran and saw duty in the Caribbean and European theatres during the Korean War. Dr. Alford is survived by his wife Pat Gilliland Alford of Jackson and by his children Rogena and husband Petty Officer Scott Lewis of Chicago IL; Deborah and husband Dr. Donald P. Bell of Metairie LA and Robert Wayne and his wife Dianna Alford of St. Augustine FL and their mother La Nelle Alford of Jackson. Six grandchildren Mary Catherine Lewis Anna Michele Lewis Jonathan Wyatt Lewis all of Chicago and John Roger Bell Veronica Bell and Brian Paul Bell all of Metairie LA and by his stepsons Rob Gilliland and wife Donna and Lucky Gilliland and wife Debbie of Jackson TN and by four step-granddaughters Ginger Williams Anna Gilliland Katie Gilliland and Amy Clifft all of Jackson TN. Dr. Alford is also survived by a sister Barbara Gates of Hattiesburg MS and a brother Roger Alford and wife Martha of Bolton MS. Dr. Alford was preceded in death by a brother Howard Alford Jr. Pallbearers to serve are Mike Rowland Mike Dennison Steve Webb Steve Wyatt Jim Miller and David Burke. Honorary pallbearers to serve will be the members of the Agoga Class of Calvary Baptist Church. The family will receive friends today from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home and on Sunday November 28 2004 from 1:00 p.m. until the service time at Calvary Baptist Church 119 Oil Well Rd. Jackson TN. George A. Smith and Sons North Chapel 731-427-5555

Published in The Jackson Sun on November 27, 2004