JOSEPH LAWRENCE “LARRY” ALFORD, JR.
AAFA #0714
1947 FL – 2006 FL
[Nearly
identical articles were published on the same day in the Dothan Eagle, Dothan, Houston Co., AL;
and News Journal, Pensacola, Escambia Co., FL.]
TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT
Tallahassee, Leon Co., FL—Wednesday, 19 April 2006
MARIANNA [Jackson Co.]—Joseph “Larry” Lawrence Alford Jr.,
59, died Friday, March 31, 2006, after a brief illness. Memorial services will
be at 11 a.m. CDT Saturday at Chipola College Auditorium. Entombment will be at
Pinecrest Memorial Gardens. James & Sikes Funeral Home, Maddox Chapel
(850-482-2332) is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial
contributions may be made to The Larry Alford Memorial Scholarship College
Foundation, 3094 Indian Circle Road, Marianna, FL 32446.
He was born Feb. 22, 1947, to Ruth Whiddon
Alford and Joseph Lawrence Alford. Larry graduated from Marianna High School,
then went on to earn an Associate of Arts from Chipola Junior College, a
Bachelor of Arts from the University of West Florida and a Masters of Fine Arts
in theater from Florida State University. From 1969 to 1976, he taught at
Chipola Junior College, where he directed 27 theater productions. The first was
Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park” in November 1969. The last was “Guys and
Dolls” in March 1976. Among the many actors he brought to Marianna were W. C. “Mutt”
Burton, Ann B. Davis, Robert Horton, Ken Howard and Peter Palmer. While at
Chipola, he also led annual theater trips to New York. He had a profound
influence on his students, some of whom went on to have careers in film,
television and theater.
Larry moved to New York in 1976, where he
pursued an active career in theater. Before his big break, he was a contestant
on game shows such as “$25,000 Pyramid” and “Jackpot.” In 1985 he directed the
Tony-nominated “Jerry’s Girls,” a celebration of the music and lyrics of Jerry
Herman. “Jerry’s Girls” was subsequently produced and continues to be produced,
in the United States and all over the world, particularly in Australia, where
it set box-office records. Among the actresses who performed in the review were
Carol Channing, Dorothy Loudon, Andrea McArdle, Chita Rivera and Leslie Uggams.
Larry also directed productions for Holland America Cruise Lines and numerous
corporations, including American Express, Fuji, IBM and Mobil.
While living in New York, he did a great deal of
charitable work. He was involved in benefits for AMFAR with Elizabeth Taylor
and for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation with Mary Tyler Moore.
In the late ‘90s, he began dividing his time
between New York and Marianna before permanently settling in Marianna, where he
cultivated his passion for folk art. He was famous for his whimsical and
unusual painted wooden fish.
Larry was an exuberant, spirited presence who
livened up every room into which he walked. Always a director, he made life a
performance. He will be sorely missed.
Survivors include his sister, Diane Alford
Mitchell (and husband Jim) of Quincy; two nephews, Mark Mitchell of Gainesville
and Graham Mitchell of Quincy; a great-niece and -nephew.
Larry was preceded in death by his mother and
father. During the last years of his mother’s life he was a loving and
dedicated caregiver.
In another
article:
JACKSON COUNTY FLORIDAN
Marianna, Jackson Co., FL—Wednesday, 19 April 2006
Larry Alford, a native of Marianna, Fla., died
on March 31, 2006, after a brief illness. He was 59.
Born Feb. 22, 1947, to Ruth Whiddon Alford and
Joseph Lawrence Alford, Larry graduated from Marianna High School, then when on
to earn an AA degree from Chipola College, a BA from the University of West
Florida and an MFA in theater from Florida State University. From 1969 to 1976,
he taught at Chipola Junior College, where he directed 27 theater productions.
The first was Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park” in November of 1969. The last
was “Guys and Dolls” in March of 1976.
Among the many actors he brought to Marianna
were W.C. “Mutt” Burton, Ann B. Davis, Robert Horton, Ken Howard and Peter
Palmer. While at Chipola, he also led annual theater trips to New York. He had
a profound influence on his students, some of whom went on to have careers in
film, television and theater.
Larry moved to New York in 1976, where he
pursued an active career in the theater. Before his big break, he was a
contestant on such game shows as “The $25,000 Pyramid” and “Jackpot.” In 1985
he directed the Tony-nominated “Jerry’s Girls,” a celebration of the music and
lyrics of Jerry Herman. “Jerry’s Girls” was subsequently produced and continues
to be produced in the United States and all over the world, in particular
Australia, where it set box office records. Among the actresses who performed
in the review were Carol Channing, Dorothy Loudon, Andrea McArdle, Chita Rivera
and Leslie Uggams. Larry also directed productions for Holland America Cruise
Lines and numerous corporations including American Express, Fuji, IBM and
Mobil.
While living in New York he did a great deal of
charitable work. He was involved in benefits of AMFAR with Elizabeth Taylor and
for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation with Mary Tyler Moore.
In the late 90’s, he began dividing his time
between New York and Marianna before permanently settling in Marianna, where he
cultivated his passion for folk art. He was famous for his whimsical and
unusual painted wooden fish.
Larry was preceded in death by his mother and
father. During the last years of his mother’s life he was a loving and
dedicated caregiver.
He is survived by his sister, Diane Alford
Mitchell and husband Jim of Quincy; nephews, Mark Mitchell of Gainesville and
Graham Mitchell of Quincy; and a great-niece and nephew.
Larry was an exuberant, spirited presence who
livened up every room into which he walked. Always a director, he made life a
performance. He will be sorely missed.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., on
Saturday, April 22, at Chipola College Auditorium. Entombment will be at
Pinecrest Memorial Gardens, with James and Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel in
charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to
The Larry Alford Memorial Scholarship College Foundation, 3094 Indian Circle
Rd., Marianna, Fla., 32446.
AAFA
NOTES: SSDI records confirm the birth and death dates of Joseph L.
Alford (SS# issued in FL), last residence not listed.
Larry joined AAFA after responding to letters
sent out by AAFA promoting the 1994 Richmond, VA meeting. In addition to the
information in the obituary, we know that Larry’s company API - Alford
Productions Inc., based on publicity circa 1995:
. . . has over twenty
years of prestigious producing and directing credits, including productions
starring Peter Allen, Susan Anton, Gene Barry, Gloria Estefan, Roberta Flack,
Zsa Zsa Gabor, Joel Grey, Marvin Hamilsch, Ken Howard, Raul Julia, Hal Linden,
Mary Martin, Marlee Matlin, Dina Merrill, Mary Tyler Moore, Rita Moreno, Brooke
Shields, Elizabeth Taylor, Ben Vereen, Barbara Walters, Jo Anne Worley, and
Tommy Tune.
He has directed and/or
created a variety of industrials and special events for numerous national and
international companies, including, American Express, Georgia-Pacific, Glaxo
Pharmaceuticals, Gulf Life, IBM, Mobil Oil, New York Live, Oldsmobile, Olsten,
Philip Morris International, Proctor & Gamble, Shearson Lehman, Time Inc.
and Trane Corporation.
Galas created and
produced by Alford Productions Inc. include “Elizabeth Taylor & Friends,” “American
Express Salutes Liberty,” “David Merrick’s Lullabies of Broadway,” “Say it With
Music: Songs of Irving Berlin,” and “The American Dental Association Presents I
Hear America Singing.
Larry’s theatre credits
include “Look Homeward, Angel,” “You Can’t Take It With You,” “The Odd Couple,”
“Our Town,” “Oklahoma!,” “The Music Man,” “Guys & Dolls,” “1776,” “Mame,” “Hello,
Dolly!,” “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” “Side By Side By Sondheim,” “Annie Get Your Gun,”
“Carousel” and “Godspell.”
His lineage: Joseph Lawrence 1947 FL1,
Joseph Lawrence 1918 FL2, Joseph Columbus 1871 FL3, James
Columbus 1830 GA4, John Turner 1800 NC, 5 Job about 1763
NC6, Julius 1717 VA, James 1687 VA7.
