Chief Leland Alexander, 78 years, 8 months, and 5 days, departed this life on April 27, 2024 in Collierville.
Services were held at 2 p.m. May 1 at Milledgeville Community Church in Milledgeville with Robert Conder and Jimmy Dyer officiating.
Burial followed in the Milledgeville Cemetery at Milledgeville.
He was born on Aug. 25, 1945 in Morris Chapel, the son of the late Warren Taylor and Beatrice Louise Birmingham Alexander.
On Oct. 31, 1969, he was united in marriage to Margie E. Merritt, who survives.
He worked for Sheriff’s Department Academy, Shelby County Penal Correctional Center as Chief of Security for 26 years, and Shelby County Sheriff’s Department as a Deputy for 26 years. He headed up the Escape Squad and trained dogs at the correctional facility. Shelby County had a 97% recap rate when he worked there. He also had 57 years of experience working as an Emergency Medical Responder.
He previously worked in fire service in Shelby County and was currently Chief of Milledgeville Fire Department since 2010.
He was a member and board member chairman of Milledgeville Community Church. He would also play Santa Claus at the church, community centers, and banks during Christmas. He was also a member of Milledgeville Fire Department, Masonic Lodge #118 in Memphis and Emergency Medical Responders in McNairy County.
He was a chairman of Trustees and Food Ministry. He was also the former Mayor and Alderman of Milledgeville. He loved to be a part of anything he could for the City of Milledgeville.
He enjoyed going fishing and teaching his grandchildren how to drive.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Margie Alexander of Milledgeville; daughter, Melissa Ann (Scott) Fischer of Oakland; special children, Parker Herndon and Molly Marshbanks, both of Enville; grandchildren, Ella Ann Fischer and Elias Gage Fischer; honorary grandson, Dylan Bardwell; and special cousin, Tina Cooksey of Morris Chapel.
Katherine Ann Evans Harris Wyatt, 86, passed away April 22, 2024 at Henderson Health and Rehabilitation Center.
Funeral services were Sunday, April 28, at Shackelford Funeral Directors – Crook Avenue with burial following at Chester County Memory Gardens.
She was born Aug. 17, 1937, in McNairy County and reared in Chester County. She was one of five children of the late Rev L.D. and Mattie Ray Evans.
She attended school in Chester County, graduating in 1956. After graduation, she married W.V. Harris, Jr.; they made their home in Henderson.
She was employed with Salant and Salant for most of her life. She later became a nurse’s aide at Chester County Nursing Home prior to retirement.
She was a “preacher’s kid” that loved for her family to experience everything from church to scouts and musical instruments to tap dancing; she loved all sports and coached from the stand!
She was a 50-year active member of the Order of Eastern Star. She was a long time Sunday school teacher at Sanford Hill Baptist Church.
After Junior’s death, she married Billy Wyatt in 2001. They made their home in the Chickasaw area until his death. She dearly loved Billy’s children, Harold, Bobbie, Ruby, David, Jerry, Susie, Billy Glen and Tommy, like they were hers.
She is survived by sons, Rev. Glenn (Judy) Harris of Henderson and John (Kelly) Harris of Bluffton, S.C.; daughter, Becky (Les) Keen of Henderson; five grandchildren, Kirbi (Josh) Fahs, Dallas (Jared) Cook, Blake (Anna) Harris, Bethany Harris and Brittany Harris; and three great-grandchildren, Jackson Fahs, Piper Fahs and Saylor Cook.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Junior Harris in 1988; husband, Billy Wyatt in 2016; brothers, Billy Evans and Alton Evans; sisters, Ruth Hall and Maxine Hardin; and grandsons, Ryan Glenn Harris and Les Alan Keen.
