Mary Alice Alexander (Holt)

Ms. Mary Alice Alexander passed away Thursday, December 20, 2018 at McLaren Hospital in Lansing, Michigan. Age 61 years. Mary Alexander was born October 20, 1957 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Aaron and Berta Boone and grew up in Philadelphia. Mary attended J. W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School where she played basketball and developed a love of music. She then graduated from Lawrence Technical Institute. Mary fell in love with and married Thomas Alexander and went on to have two daughters. After Bridgette was born in Philadelphia in 1977, they moved to Lansing, Michigan in 1978. It was here that Aleathia was born in 1982.

After moving to Lansing, Mary worked for St. Lawrence and Sparrow Hospitals as a nurse and phlebotomist. It was here that she met many dear friends for life.

Mary loved a road trip, especially those that ended up looking over the many bodies of water that Michigan had to offer. Ideally, she’d even be caught holding a fishing pole. She loved NFL football, especially her hometown Eagles and cross-state rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers. She also loved the NBA, especially Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Other simple pleasures in Mary’s life included scratching off a $2 Cashword lottery ticket, sipping on a Mudslide and watching anything Tyler Perry. Mary would direct the making of meals on holidays featuring, at least, side dishes of collard greens, cornbread and macaroni & cheese. The main course could vary, but those were non-negotiable.

Mary had an innate ability to reach people in a deep and positive way, especially her girls. She loved to help others, and instilled that trait in her daughters.

Mary is survived by her daughters, Bridgette Alexander of Concord, North Carolina and Aleathia Alexander (Stephen) Fritz of Holt, Michigan; her granddaughter D’Naya Alexander of Concord & Greensboro, North Carolina. She will also be missed by Stephen’s children, Hayley Byrnes of Laramie, Wyoming, Leah Byrnes of Denver, Colorado and Ayden Byrnes of Brooklyn, New York.

She is also survived by her aunt, Regina Burgett of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; brothers, Ronald Henson of Battle Creek, Michigan and Lawrence Henson of Philadelphia, Peensylvania; sisters Marlena and Lorena of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and many cousins, nieces and nephews who will miss her dearly.

Also remembering Mary are special friends Harold McElrath (and family), Phyllis and Paul Burton (and family), Sharhonda Wilson (and family), Margaret Mims, Cheryl Coleman Jones (and family), Yvette Gonzalez, Rameisha Ray (and family), and Constance White-Brickhouse.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Aaron and Berta Boone; sisters, Iris Rodriguez and Antoinette Logan; aunt, Dorothy Lipford and special friend, Carol Ramsey-Whitmore.

The family would like to express special thanks to Phyllis Burton, Yvette Gonzales, Tshonda Harden, and the Fritz family for their support through these last several weeks.