Alexander Elmer Wrenn

Alexander Elmer Wrenn, age 77, died peacefully on Monday April 24th at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his family. A Service of Witness to The Resurrection will be held Saturday, May 6, 2023, at First Presbyterian Church, 617 N Elm St, Greensboro, at 2:00 PM.

He was born in Greensboro on October 25th, 1945, to Oscar Ivey ( Ike ) Wrenn and Lucy Wright Wrenn. Alec attended Greensboro Senior High (Grimsley), graduating in 1963. He attended UNC Chapel Hill achieving a degree in business and accounting in 1968. Following his family’s legacy of military service, that of his father Oscar Ivey Wrenn, 2-Star General United States Army Reserve and his Uncle “Runt” Elmer Wrenn, Colonel, United States Marine Corps, Alec enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1968, to serve in wartime in Vietnam. An artillery officer, he served until 1971, achieving the rank of Captain. His military service as a Marine set the tone and tenor of his life, with values of brotherhood, service, sacrifice, duty, and honor, an achievement of which he was most proud.

Upon Completion his Marine Corps service, Alec joined the Greensboro real estate firm Clendenin, Wrenn, and Kirkman Realtors in 1971, becoming a partner in his father’s company in 1973. Alec would go on to run Wrenn Zealy Properties until his retirement in 2015.

Following a family legacy of service at First Presbyterian Church, in 1978, Alec was Elected and Ordained as Deacon, and in 1980, Elected and Ordained as an Elder. In 1982 he served as Chairman of the International Missions Committee, Elder & Chairman of Community Ministries, 1987-1988 Member of the Coordinating Committee. He was actively involved in mission outreach, leading teams to John’s Island, South Carolina, Chinle, Arizona, and in beginning in 1999, for 3 years, led teams doing flood recovery work in Eastern North Carolina, after Hurricane Floyd. Alec was also involved with Habitat for Humanity.

In 1972, Alec became a graduate of the REALTORS Institute. He has served the Greensboro Regional REALTORS Association (GRRA) in many capacities. Among those: Board of Directors 1981-1984, President 1983, Strategic Planning Committee, Budget and Finance Committee, Professional Standards Committee, Policy and By-Laws Committee, Past President of the Greensboro REALTORS Foundation. 1987 Alec served on the Legislative Committee and was Chairman of the Property Management Division and would be REALTOR of the year in 1987. In 1988, he was awarded the Regional Service Award for Region #5, for generous service of NCAR. He served on the Board of Governors and as an officer of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), a division of the National Association of REALTORS. Additionally, he was Director of NCAR and has served on several NCAR Committees. He would be awarded The Jack H. Brown Memorial Award in 1991, and Recipient of the GRRA Hall of Fame Award in 1992.

Alec also served as the Consumer Arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the Greensboro Housing Coalition, and served as President of Affordable Housing Management Inc., a non-profit formerly The Greensboro Housing Foundation. Alec also served the United Arts Council managing the Sternberger Artist Center, and receiving the UAC’s 2006 Volunteer of the Year Award.

Over the course of the last 20 years or so, Alec has been involved with the community at Presbyterian Homes High Point, now River Landing at Sandy Ridge. He has served on the Board of Trustees, holding various positions of leadership. He has also been involved with the Board of Governors at Brightspire, formerly Presbyterian Homes, Inc. It was his great honor and privilege to be a part of this organization. Kathy and Alec moved into River Landing in the summer of 2021.

Together with wife Kathy, the two had many memorable adventures over their 54 years. He had a constant hunger for adventure, which infected their sons. They hiked rim to rim in the Grand Canyon, canoed the Colorado River, and had several “no trace” back country hiking and jeep camping trips in Utah and Arizona. They had several small RVs and visited many national parks. A most memorable trip was a family trip to Normandy in 2019. They were avid boaters, and in addition to coastal boating spent several years chartering catamarans in the Caribbean with friends. He was Commander of the Greensboro Power Squadron, an organization devoted to boating education and safety. He was an avid runner participating in 3 marathons, including twice running at the Marine Corps Marathon.

They raised 3 sons with a desire to serve others, in Fire, Police, and Military service; nothing could have made him prouder. There are two daughters-in-law he loved for their caring and giving nature. Three grandchildren Chase and fiancé Stephanie, Emma, and Lincoln whom he cherished.

He is preceded in death by his father Ike Wrenn, mother Lucy Wrenn, sisters Elinor and Kay, and brother Ikey.

Alec is survived by his wife Kathryn (Kathy) Wrenn, sons Jonathan, daughter-in-law Alexandra, Andrew, daughter-in-law Megan, and Taylor; grandchildren Chase, Emma, and Lincoln, and sister Anne Wrenn Russell.

The family would like to thank the incredible doctors and nursing staff at Moses Cone and Atrium Hospitals, Sanger Heart and Vascular, Cone Heart Clinic, as well as Well Care and Amerita Infusion, for providing Alec such incredible compassion and care.

In lieu of flowers, consider donations to the Semper Fi Fund, Folds of Honor, Tunnel to Towers, Warrior Canine Connection, the Triad Field of Honor, or a charity of your choosing.

Hanes Lineberry North Elm Chapel is assisting the family of Mr. Wrenn. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com for the Wrenn family.