Carl Glenn Alexander, (known as Glenn to his family and friends and Mr. A to his students) was born on Mother’s Day, May 10, 1942, to Winford and Clara Alexander in Lometa, Texas. He grew up on the family ranch before turning into a responsible young adult and seeking his first full-time employment that transformed him into a transplanted Floridian with strong roots remaining in his native state. As he added branches to the family tree, he never lost the “Texas twang” in his “howdy” nor his appreciation for a good-fitting pair of cowboy boots. He loved the land to the end and his last vacation was on a ranch near where he grew up. He took great pride in his Florida home where he succumbed on July 19, 2022.
Glenn graduated from his hometown school, Lometa High School, attended Howard Payne University, and graduated from Texas A&M University on January 16, 1965, with a degree in Agricultural Education.
He began his teaching career at Grand Ridge High School on February 1, 1965, and taught agriculture and science until his first retirement in 1997. He recalled teaching under a shade tree and in a bus while the current agriculture building was being completed. 1n 1998, he went to work in the education department at Jackson Correctional Institute in Malone and taught there two years before returning to Grand Ridge in 2000 where he retired in 2011. He spent uncountable hours with his students in FFA activities and had many fond memories of his students and their accomplishments from the local, regional, state, and national levels. He enjoyed reminiscing with his students about their days in FFA and hearing how their experience raising and showing animals, public speaking, or being an organization leader had benefited their careers and life successes in general. He truly loved getting the privilege of teaching and guiding a second generation of students.
Glenn was a member of Salem Wesleyan Church where he served as a youth leader, choir member, and trustee for many years. He was always ready to help with whatever activities the church was involved in, from being a board member helping manage the church’s administrative business, to cleaning up after Bible School refreshments. He was an active baseball parent during the years his sons were involved in sports from Little League through high school.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Judy Daniels Alexander, and his sons and their well-chosen wives who immediately filled the voids as daughters, Craig and Valena, Dana and Melanie. He felt blessed that his sons and their children chose to make their homes on the “family compound” in the Cypress/Grand Ridge vicinity. Grandchildren Dustin, Charlie, Aiden, Ashbi, and Adlei Alexander reflect his values and were a source of pride as they excelled particularly in FFA. He would have wanted nothing more than his last days to be spent in the home he and Judy created, cared for by those with whom he shared a mutual love and respect.
Glenn is also survived by his sister, Kathleen Hamilton and her son, Patrick (Kathy) as well as Kathleen’s grandchildren, Chris, Amanda, Samuel, Tyler, and Alex, all who reside in Las Vegas, Nevada. He always considered his Florida family as special and that includes his siblings-in-law, Leland Daniels (Phyllis) of Dellwood, Hank Daniels of Cypress and Linda Lee (Roger) of Titusville. He enjoyed a lifetime of interaction and unique interchanges with his nephews and nieces, Stacy Bunin (Eric) of Clifton, Virginia, Jennifer Lee (Chris) of Fort Myers, Jimmy Daniels of Brandon, Mississippi, Ty Daniels (Kaitlyn) of Cottondale, and Rett Daniels (Jordan) of Dellwood. His family tree further extends to great nephews and nieces, as well as great-great nephews and nieces residing from Jackson County to North Dakota.
He was predeceased by his parents, Winford and Clara; his in-laws, Everett and Mildred Daniels; brother-in-law, Phil Hamilton; and niece, Paula Crowley.
He enjoyed his lifetime of teaching and all of the activities that involved his FFA members, as well as reading, doing crossword puzzles, gardening, and helping decorate his home for holidays and special occasion family celebrations. He particularly enjoyed Saturday night burger cooking and entertaining in the made-to-order Burger Barn that has proven to be not just a gathering place, but a place to nourish and preserve family and carry on a legacy that originated with this Florida family even before Glenn became part of it.
To honor Glenn’s memory, we encourage you to have a hamburger with fries and a glass of sweet tea one of these Saturday nights. And, remember to leave room for dessert.
For other ways to honor Glenn, bring a living plant, cutting, seeds, or a unique rock to be nurtured in the “compound” greenhouses or gardens or make a donation to the Grand Ridge Middle School, Sneads High School FFA, Salem Wesleyan Church, or Covenant Hospice.
The family expresses gratitude to those professionals who helped make Glenn’s end of life as comfortable as possible: Staff at Internal Medicine, Jackson Hospital’s Emergency Room staff and the PIC Unit, the staff at Signature Courtyard, and his Covenant Hospice caregivers. Your care and kindness will always be remembered.
A celebration of life is planned at Marianna Chapel Funeral Home on Friday, July 22, 2022 with visitation from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and a memorial tribute beginning at 6:30 p.m. with Hank Daniels as moderator and Reverend Chris Franklin delivering the devotion.
A casual jeans and boots graveside service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, July 23, 2022 in Cypress Cemetery with Rev. Toby Allen officiating and Marianna Chapel Funeral Home directing.
