WILLIAM JOSEPH “W.J.” ALFORD

1924 – 1996

AAFA #0138

 

W.J. and Jeweleen Alford

Photo from AAFA files

 

HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Houston, Harris Co., TX—Sunday, 24 March 1996

 

            William Joseph (W.J.) Alford, 71, passed away Friday, March 22, 1996. W.J. retired after 37 years with Weingarten grocery. He was a member of Lindale Park Lodge #1347 and North Houston Chapter and Council #472. W.J. was a deacon in Lindale and White Oak Baptist Churches.

He is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Jeweleen Bell Alford; son and daughter-in-law, Alan and Connie Alford; daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Keith Church and Melanie and Charles Leavens; seven grandchildren; brothers, Harold, Wallace and Maurice Alford; sisters, Willie Mae Fenter, Sibyl Headley and Camille Wilson.

Funeral services will be held Monday, March 25, 1996 at 1:00 pm. at White Oaks Baptist Church, 3615 Mangum [Houston, TX] with Pastor Paul Dreason officiating. Interment will follow at Rosewood Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to White Oak Baptist Church.

 

Photo from Rosewood Funeral Home and Cemetery, Humble, Harris Co., TX—www.findagrave.com

 

AAFA NOTES: SSDI records show that William J. Alford (SS# issued in TX) was born 24 Nov 1924, last residence Houston, Harris Co., TX.

            We published the obituaries of his wife, Jeweleen Joy Bell Alford; and his brothers Clifton Maurice Alford and Wallace Alford in the Texas Obituaries compilation, and the obituary of his sister Willie Mae Alford Fenter in the Louisiana Obituaries compilation.

            W.J. was the son of Oscar Riley Alford and Bertha Ann Sparks.

            From Gil Alford:

 

            From the time he discovered AAFA at our second meeting in Houston, 1989, he missed only two meetings—and in both cases it was his health that prevented his presence. We were expecting W.J. and Jeweleen in Destin in 1992, but in late September we received a note from Jeweleen: “Sorry, we’re not going to make it to Destin after all. On September 15th W.J. was diagnosed as having multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer). It is affecting his back with quite a lot of pain. He has just begun taking oral medication to keep it under control so we pray he’ll be better. We’ll miss seeing everyone and wish our best to all of you.” A year later: “W.J. is still taking the oral chemo medication about every 4–5 weeks and it makes him feel weak and badly for several days. His pain is gone now though and he’s doing better. We are going to try to make it to St. Francisville.” And they did—they also attended the 1994 meeting in Richmond, VA. They were missed in Decatur as they will be in Springfield.

            Jeweleen recently wrote: “W.J. was home when he died, because that’s what he wanted. He truly enjoyed getting together will all of you Alfords. We came to the meetings until he was unable to do so. Thanks for all you’ve been to us.”

            Brad Alford, the son of Wilmer R. Alford, #0784, of Pasadena, TX, first let us know of W.J.’s death. He wrote: “W.J.’s interest in the Alford American Family Association was the reason that we joined. His presence on our fishing trips to Lake Toledo Bend will be sorely missed.”

 

            For more information on his genealogy, see Descendants of Jacob Alford, b. 1761 NC .

            His lineage: William Joseph 1924 LA¹, Oscar Riley 1880 LA², William Riley 1842 LA³, Julius C. 1797 GA⁴, Jacob 1761 NC⁵, Julius 1717 VA⁶, James 1687 VA⁷, John 1645 VA⁸.