The Rev. Dr. George Wilson Alexander II (Col. Ret.) was born to Jesse Wilson Alexander and Reella Alexander on December 21, 1936 in Louisville, Kentucky. George grew up with his parents and three older siblings in a one-bedroom shotgun house on Hale Avenue. George had a happy childhood on Hale Avenue. He was surrounded by a large close-knit extended family, members of the Centennial Olivet Baptist Church, and devoted educators - all of whom instilled in their children a commitment to each other, a commitment to God, and a commitment to excellence and education as a means to survive. It was through this strong Louisville community that George experienced the power of living in community. Through this loving community, George developed his commitment to God’s command to care for one another, especially the “least of our brothers and sisters”, the disadvantaged and oppressed.
George discovered his calling to be a minister at an early age. Encouraged by the elders of Virginia Avenue Elementary School and Central High School, George focused on his education in order to “be a credit to his race”. In 1958, George graduated from Central State College cum laude with a BA in Philosophy. While at Central State, in 1956, George pledged the Delta XI Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. In 1962, George obtained a BD in Theology from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
George was ordained as a Baptist minister in the National Baptist Church in 1961. Later in life, he obtained an MA in Education from Teacher’s College at Columbia University (1971), a Doctorate of Ministry from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (1984), and an MPA from George State University (1989).
Following the footsteps of his two older brothers, George entered the Army, beginning active duty as a Staff Chaplain at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. George later joined the 101st Airborne Division, the “Screaming Eagles”, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky (where he met and married Norma Jean). In 1965, he began jumping out of airplanes alongside soldiers to bring comfort and encouragement while on the battlefields of Vietnam. In Vietnam, George held worship services in the fields. At other times, he met the soldiers “where they were” in work places, mess halls, and recreation centers. He had conversations with them over coffee, coke, or beer. George befriended them and experienced God with them in a hostile and terrible environment where no one was Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, white or black, just afraid.
Later, George spent several years in the Office of the Chief of Army Chaplains, where he advocated tirelessly and successfully to incorporate multicultural programming into the chaplaincy. As of result of his plans and programs, minority gospel choirs were developed at many installations. African-American and Hispanic Christian workshops were successfully held, and a Jewish cultural program initiated that won praise from the civilian community. For this work, George received a Meritorious Service Medal in 1975. George also received a Meritorious Service Medal in 1984 while serving as Installation Chaplain at Fort Meade, Maryland. After 22 years of service and numerous awards, including a Bronze Star and Legion of Merit, George retired from the Army in 1986. George loved serving in the military. Through the military, George achieved his dream of being a pastor, and he was able to provide for his family and travel the world.
George fell in love with the Episcopal prayer book while ministering to the troops in Vietnam. So, a few years after retirement, George was ordained as a Deacon in the Episcopal Church in 1993. He began his service as a deacon at St. Catherine’s Church in Marietta, Georgia. After his ordination to the priesthood in 1994, George served as Associate Priest at All Saints Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia. George was very proud of his work in encouraging the All Saints community to visit homebound members. Through his work, George befriended so many wonderful people, as he had been raised and practiced in Vietnam. All Saints ultimately started a Befrienders ministry. George was also committed to his work with the Concerned Black Clergy and Emmaus House, both of which afforded him the opportunity to work as a priest within Atlanta’s African-American community.
George is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Norma Jean, three daughters, Hope, Joy, and Lillyanne, seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild, a brother, Jesse Alexander, Jr., a sister, Emma Melton, and many devoted nephews, nieces, and cousins.
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