Betty Irene Alexander

Betty Irene Alexander was born in Hazel Valley, Arkansas, in 1929.  She entered the presence of the Lord on October 30, 2024, at the age of 94.

She attended a one-room schoolhouse in Hazel Valley until she moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas, at the age of 14 to help support her family and obtain a high school diploma from Fayetteville High School.  She earned a degree from Ozark Bible Institute in Ozark, Arkansas.  In 1952, she met and married Max, the love of her life, in Fayetteville.  They moved to California where both worked and graduated from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley.  After graduation, they sailed to Bangkok, Thailand, where they served as Southern Baptist missionaries for 32 years with the International Mission Board, and raised their children in Bangkok.  In 1993, Betty and Max retired from the mission field, settling in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Betty was a teacher and mentor to many during her service in Thailand.  She taught English as a second language, ministered to Cambodian refugees seeking medical care and helped them with correspondence as they sought to locate family members, taught kindergarten, worked with Max in planting churches, extended hospitality to visitors from around the world, and lovingly partnered with Max in raising their daughters.

In retirement, Betty and Max attended Nettleton Baptist Church (NBC) in Jonesboro, Arkansas, where she taught children’s Sunday School, faithfully volunteered in the prayer room, and was appointed the first Chair of the NBC Missions Council to develop a thriving missions program that ministers locally and globally.  She and Max also volunteered as tutors at Valley View Elementary School.   She enjoyed serving as a guest speaker at mission conferences and camps which gave her the opportunity to share about her and Max’s work and their love for the people of Thailand.  Betty was active in the Southern Baptist Women’s Missionary Union for many years, volunteered with the American Legion Auxiliary in Jonesboro, and visited the homebound even after she was no longer able to drive. Her generous hospitality extended to having international guests, including local college students, in the home throughout the year.  Her timeless ministry of writing notes of encouragement to family, friends, colleagues, and even strangers, reflected her love of God and humankind.

She is survived by her three daughters, Pam Alexander of Jonesboro, Arkansas; Donna K. Alexander of Great Falls, Virginia; Doris Alexander Griffin of McDonough, Georgia; son-in-law Mike Griffin, and her grandsons Alexander and Martin Griffin; sisters-in-law Shyrlene Alexander, Peggy Nickell, and Roberta Nickell, and brother-in-law Charles Wayne Hilsdon; dozens of nieces and nephews whom she held dear; and missionary families whom she loved as her own.  She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Max N. Alexander; her parents Richard H. Nickell I and Alpha Brooks Nickell; her eight siblings: Andy F. Nickell, Hilda M. Nickell, Howard A. Nickell, Glen D. Nickell, Cecil D. Nickell, Wilma J. Nickell Hilsdon, Evelyn S. Nickell Gabbard, and Richard H. Nickell II, and many fellow missionaries and their children whom she and Max knew in Thailand and loved as family.

Betty was blessed to be lovingly cared for in her final days by long-time caregivers Devida Stone, Norma Dunton, and Betty Castaneda.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at Emerson Funeral Home on Friday, November 8, 3:00 PM visitation and 4:00 PM service.  A private burial service was held at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers are Michael Griffin, Alexander Griffin, Martin Griffin, Dr. Barry and Ann Morris, Lindy Alexander, Will Alexander, Dr. J. Alan Adams, Anne Adams Eddy, Camille Adams Talburt, Huber Togni and Suchada Kulawat, Dr. Merle and Carolyn Fossen, Martha Secrease, Carolyn and Terrel Watkins, and Dr. Tony Bari.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the WMU Foundation, In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the WMU Foundation, https://donate.wmufoundation.com/mk-spiritual-development-endowment?_gl=1*1wa8d7h*_ga*MTIwMzY2NzkxMi4xNzI5NzMzNDQ4*_ga_6EL0BF8K8X*MTczMDQ5Nzk1Ni4zLjEuMTczMDQ5ODQyNy4wLjAuMA. Online registry: emersonfuneralhome.com.   Online registry: emersonfuneralhome.com.