June Alexander

JUNE ALEXANDER, 81; Passed away on Wednesday, October 23, 2013. Cherished mother of Sharon, Michael (Gina) and Tracey (Alan); dear sister of Don Holloway (Lovie) and Mary J. Williams (Alfred); Grandmother of Seven and Great grandmother of two; treasured relative of many. Home Going celebration on Thursday, October 31; Wake 10:30 AM, Funeral 11:00 AM at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 10932 St. Clair Avenue. Public viewing all day Wednesday, October 30 with family visitation from 6 PM to 8 PM at Watson's Funeral Home, 10913 Superior Avenue. Interment in Calvary Cemetery. June Holloway was born in Birmingham Alabama June 22, 1932. She was the second child of six under the love and care of Hardy and Mary Holloway. June's take charge capacity led her to assuming some of the household duties to lighten her parents load during the times of the Great Depression. In an era of the racially and economically oppressed South, the Holloways thrived with family love and from the surrounding neighborhoods. Early in her childhood, June took a liking to school and excelled in her studies. Her outgoing personality carried over into extracurricular activities at A.H. Parker High School (at 3,300+ students during the 1940s, it was considered the largest high school for "negroes" in the country). Some of those shining moments included taking on the acting roles in the Drama Club and becoming a majorette with the high school band. She eventually met and began a long life relationship with a certain Captain of the football team named William "Mack" Alexander. One of her first jobs out of high school was being a secretary at Holy Family Church & School in Birmingham. It was there where she began the spiritual journey of converting to Catholicism. June's years long relationship with Mack eventually blossomed into marriage after she relocated to join him in Cleveland, Ohio. Together they produced three children named Sharon, Michael and Tracy. Their spiritual family foundation began at Saint Agatha's as both June and Mack placed their tireless stewardship to the forefront for the parish and school. Not long after arriving in the north, one of June's first jobs was working with physically handicapped children of the Rose-Mary Home. Later she served as a University Hospital Aide. This initial exposure in social work would help shape her employment destiny in the years to come. She also served as a secretary at the Martin dePorres Center (at its original location on E. 105th Street) and she grew in stature by becoming a Board member. For several years she also worked as a seamstress at Joseph & Fiess. June accompanied and/or helped Mack on seemingly endless outings. They ranged from annual trips to Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada to help feeding hundreds at her mother-in-law Mama Catlin's fund-raising Hawaiian style Luaus. With her husband in the parish Men's Club and she in the Ladies Guild, they served as a strong duo in numerous fundraising events (June also participated in making those legendary tasty donuts on many a Sunday). She also was part of the Glenville Catholic Congress that linked churches and schools St. Agatha, St. Aloysius and St. Thomas Aquinas into an entity known as Triad. But as the mid 1970s unfolded, St. Agatha's closed and a portion of the congregation relocated to St. Aloysius. It was there where they again answered the call for more church involvement and evangelization. June joined the Ladies Guild there as well as doing a stint of Sunday School teaching for children (including some non-Catholics with no church home). Not long after undergoing spiritual renewal by way of a Cursillo, she became a Eucharistic Minister. She continued her involvement with the Martin dePorres Center as it was relocated into the remodeled St. Agatha facility. It was there where she became the first Director of the Senior Citizens Program which continues to this day. Along her professional journey, she proudly gained a B.A. Degree in Social Work from Capital University. June really loved her church family at St. Al's. But as the 1990s unfolded, she scaled down her involvement and retired to devote more time to her grandchildren as well as husband Mack. She maintained strong family ties with her brother Don and his wife Lovie in Cleveland and also her sister Mary Joyce and her husband Alfred Williams in hometown Birmingham area. This was a woman who worked at staying Christ motivated and guided in every aspect of her life. Over the years she would teach little simple personal prayers with her children and grandchildren to help endure whatever struggles and hardships they may face. One of them was; "Heavenly Father guide me in whatever I say and watch over me in whatever I do, by however I help myself or someone else may it ultimately be pleasing to you. As follow the path of your son Jesus Christ, Amen." June Alexander has joined again with Mack and other love ones who have gone on before, in THE one place we all seek to be under God's loving and saving grace.