Franklin D. Alexander

Franklin Delano Alexander (a.k.a Joe) was born on December 28, 1935 to Curtis & Loberta Alexander of Marshall, TX and raised by his grandparents John & Pearl Denson. He attended Five Notch Elementary School and, in 1954, graduated from H.B. Pemberton High School. After graduation, he was employed at Denson’s Garage which was owned by his uncle. He was the bookkeeper there until 1958. Briefly that year, he also drove a school bus, making him the youngest person to do so at the age of 19. On December 3, 1958, he was drafted into the Armed Forces. Frank was honorably discharged from the Army in 1960 after 2 years of active duty spent mostly in Germany. He returned to Texas but decided to leave Marshall in 1962. On July 2, 1962 he drove to Seattle, WA. (Now, this is where it gets good.) In August 1962 he agreed to go on a blind date with a friend’s sister and he met Juanita Edwards. They were married on November 29, 1963, and their daughter Felicia Diane was born in December 1968. To further his education, he attended the Western Educational Institute while working in the Maintenance Dept. at the Olympic Hotel in Seattle, WA. After completing Western Educational in 1968, he became Reservations Manager. Frank held that position for 2 ½ years. In 1970 he was transferred to the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC where he was Reservations Manager and the only person of color in the front office. The family lived in Wheaton, MD. After leaving the Mayflower Hotel, he decided to try another avenue and joined the Management Dept. of Market Tire Co. in Maryland. Frank, Juanita, and Felicia united with Zion Baptist Church in 1985 under the pastorate of Rev. Carlton W. Veazey. Frank joined the Male Chorus in 1988 and was president of the Male Chorus for eight years. He was also an active member of the Men’s Club. And, in 2003, Frank and Juanita were ordained as Deacons of Zion. Frank is survived by his daughter, Deacon Felicia D. Alexander of Germantown, MD; two brothers: Rev. Curtis B. Alexander of Beaumont, TX and Douglas M. Parish of Ft. Worth, TX; a sister, Hazel M. Harris of Seattle, WA; and host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. [Click here to view or download the Funeral Program] file:///C:/Users/rroye/Desktop/Franklin%20Alexander%20Program.htm

Tributes

Franklin D. Alexander

December 28, 1935 - November 26, 2020