Rufus Frederick Alexander Jr.

Rufus Frederick ‘Fred’ Alexander, Jr., 83, of Brunswick, departed this life April 26, 2023 at his residence surrounded by his family. A Celebration of Life service will be conducted Monday, May 1, 2023 at 11:00 am in St. Simons United Methodist Church with Reverend Tom Jones, Reverend Richard Soper, and Herman Hudson officiating. A reception will follow at the Brunswick Country Club.

Born April 14, 1940 in Vidalia, Georgia to the late Rufus Fredrick Alexander Sr., and Claudia T. Alexander, he was a graduate of Lyons High School Class of 1958 where he lettered in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He was co-captain of the football and basketball teams his senior year and loved playing the trumpet. He later attended Georgia Teachers College before transferring to Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee on a football and golf scholarship. He also served 6 years in the National Guard in Georgia and Tennessee.

Fred, along with his brother Bill, owned the Island Grove Motel from 1965-1976. Mr. Alexander had been a resident of Glynn County since 1972 where he worked 35 years in banking at American National and First Georgia before retiring from United Community Bank as Vice President and branch Manager in 2005. He was a member of St. Simons United Methodist Church and a past member of the Exchange Club of Brunswick serving as President and Exchangite of the Year from 1984-1985.He represented the Exchange Club at the Philadelphia and Dallas National conventions. He also served on numerous church boards at SSUMC, First United Methodist, and The Chapel. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Brunswick County Club where he enjoyed many rounds of golf and cards playing with friends at ‘Big Boy Day Care’ and served as co-chair of the Golden Isles Invitational Golf tournament for 2 years. Mr. Alexander was an avid golfer, enjoyed playing cards, and watching his grandchildren play sports, dance at recitals, and perform at school programs. He taught his children and grandchildren to play gin rummy which led to competitive and ongoing gin tournaments around the family table. He also taught his children and their friends how to change a tire and balance a checkbook. He and Janie also loved to dance to music from the 50s and 60s and could be seen dancing at weddings, parties, dance spots, their front porch and their living room, and they have passed their love of dance on to their children and grandchildren who love taking dance lessons from Mema and Pepa. One of Fred and Janie’s recent beloved pastimes is sitting in front of their home on Lanier Boulevard in the mornings and waving to the students on their daily commute to Glynn Middle School. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Jack Alexander.

Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Janie Alexander of Brunswick, five children, Russ Alexander, III of St. Simons Island, Tris Strickland and her husband Chip of Brooklet, GA, (and their mother Becky Yarborough Tindall of St. Simons Island); Lisa Woodman and husband Cliff of St. Simons Island; Melanie Hairston and husband Tyler of Brunswick; and Amanda Tate and husband Jason of St. Simons Island. Ten grandchildren, Whitney Horne, Sheena Moore (Ben), Lindsay Strickland, Trey Strickland, Peyton, Abigail, Alexa Kate Parker, Jax, Sam, and Madden Tate. Six great grandchildren, Madelyn Slaughter, Kash and Remy Horne, Matthew, Hayden, and Keegan Moore. Two brothers, Bill Alexander of Lyons, Jimmy Alexander and his wife Jackie of Vidalia, Sister-in-Law Judy Alexander of Harmony, FL, Sister-in-law Gail Harris of St. Simons Island and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to St. Simons United Methodist Church Building Fund, 624 Ocean Boulevard, St. Simons Island, GA 31522 or Hospice of the Golden Isles, 1692 Glynco Parkway, Brunswick, GA 31525.

Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. www.edomillerandsons.com