On Friday, January 8, 2010, Mrs. Alice Young of Selma, Alabama passed at her home. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 o’clock p.m. Sunday, January 17, 2010 at the First Baptist Church of Selma with Rev. Frederick Hardy officiating. Burial will follow in Fairlawn Memorial Gardens with J.H. Williams &Sons Funeral Home directing.
Mrs. Young was born in Aliceville, Alabama to the late Nathan and Elmira Jemison. She was preceded in death by her husband Mr. Woodrow “W.W” Young who expired on November 12, 2009.
Mrs. Young attended the Pickens County Training School in Carrollton, Alabama. After graduating and completing her secondary education, she attended Selma University in Selma where she studied English. Her studies also included advanced classes in Christian Education. She participated in many school activities such as the school choir, Student Baptist Association, Student Baptist Convention and served as a student missionary.
While attending Selma University, she met the one and only love of her life Mr. Woodrow “W.W.” Young. They married and made Selma their home. She was married to W.W. for over 47 years. During their marriage, the Youngs traveled to many places and made many friends. Both of them marched in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March. Mrs. Young was also a member of the Student Non-Violence Coalition. The union of Alice and W.W. produced four devoted children. Mrs. Young took her responsibility of mother very seriously and participated in every aspect of her children’s upbringing including their education.
Mrs. Young participated and held positions in the PTO for over 30 years at Edgewood Elementary, Westside Middle School and Selma High School. She also held positions in the Selma High School Band Boosters, and served as a parent volunteer for the Selma City School System. As her children entered colleges and universities, she became a parent volunteer, parent weekend chair and parent outreach organizer of Tuskegee University, Troy State University and the University of Alabama respectively. Although Mrs. Young was busy due to obligations as a wife and mother, she did not neglect responsibilities to her faith.
During her early Christian life she was baptized and joined the New Canaan Baptist Church in Aliceville, Alabama. When Mrs. Young came to Selma, she joined the First Baptist Church where her husband W.W. was already a member. She matched her husband’s dedication to First Baptist Church as an active and dedicated member. Shortly after joining, she was asked to serve as director of the Sunshine Choir. Later she became director of Senior Choir #1. She also served as a Deaconess, Trustee’s wife, and a member of the Sunday School.
Of the many appointments and offices she held in the Church and Community, one of her most cherished roles was serving as President of the General Missionary Society of the First Baptist Church, a position she held until her death. Her many accomplishments as Missionary President included: the Annual Missionary Program, Annual Bosco Food Drive, Annual Toys for Tot Drive, and participation in the Alabama State Women’s Convention. Her community affiliations included: the American Heart Association, the Selma to Montgomery Historic Trail Association, the Selma Dallas County Retired Teachers Association and the Alabama Retired Teachers Association.
Mrs. Young is survived by her beloved children, Wilson “Dell” Young (Candice) and Warren “Billy” Young of Selma, Alabama, Wanda Young-Lowe (John) of the Birmingham metro area, and Marcellus Wilson Young (Nancy) of Tracy, California, two stepsons, Richard Charles Young (Mary) and Woodrow W. Young, III (Barbara) of Birmingham, Alabama, two aunts Mary Emma Wilder (Sammy) of Aliceville, Alabama, Margie Hampton of Huntsville, Alabama, two sisters Flocella Miniard of Aliceville, Alabama, Constance Windham (Earlie) of Little Rock, Arkansas, grandchildren, cousins Mrs. Carolyn Young of Eutaw, Alabama and Mrs. Ecleave Jackson (Harvey) of Huntsville, Alabama, special friends Mrs. Marjesta Yelder Walker, Mr. Robert Craig and family, many nieces, nephews and a host of relatives and friends.