Eleanor Croft McElvy

Born on January 22, 1941, in Washington, D.C., Eleanor lived a life marked by unwavering faith, selfless service, and devotion to her family and community. After graduating high school, Eleanor pursued her passion for music, earning a bachelor’s degree at Boston University and a Master’s of Music-Vocal Performance at the University of Southern California, where she served as the first female president of Mu Phi Epsilon.

She was a gifted soprano and an accomplished opera singer who performed at Carnegie Hall in New York and The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. After college, Eleanor was a voice teacher who believed music was a gift to be shared – whether in a concert hall, a school auditorium, or a community center.

Eleanor’s legacy is one of humility, compassion, and selflessness. She directed musicals at her children’s schools, volunteered weekly to teach music at the Nehemiah Center in Chisolm, and started a ministry tutoring and teaching music to young children at McKenzie Courts in Tuscaloosa. Alongside her husband, Douglas, they opened their home to Montgomery-area college students, mentoring, leading Bible studies, and feeding young people for nearly a decade.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Paul Hedwall, who passed away in 1979. In the years that followed, Eleanor poured herself into raising their three young children, providing not only for their physical needs but grounding them in faith, athletics, music, and the strength of a mother’s love.

In 1983, Eleanor married Douglas McElvy, who remained her husband and closest companion for 42 years. Together they raised five children and built a life centered on Christ and family.

At her core, Eleanor was a servant – of her family, her community, and her Lord. She was a member of First Baptist Church Montgomery, and before that, First Baptist Tuscaloosa. In both churches, she was an active and faithful member of the choir. She lived her life with a deep, enduring belief in Jesus Christ. That faith inspired a grace and gorgeous self-deprecation grounded in righteous resolve.

Eleanor is survived by her loving husband, Douglas McElvy, and their five children: Paul McElvy (Katie) and their children Emily, Abbi, and LeeAnne; Jonathan McElvy (Meghan) and their children Hank, Cal, and Bo; Liz Spiller Wood (Kyle) and her children Mike, Mac, and Major; Keren Emma McElvy and her son, Jack; and Douglas McElvy Jr. and his children Douglas III, Olivia, and Samson.

Eleanor was not a woman who sought attention, and those who knew her for a lifetime or a passing moment knew she cared for them. The family is especially thankful for the loving help and support provided by friends and caretakers Doranda Sankey and Agness Kwibisa.

A memorial service to honor Eleanor’s life will be will held at First Baptist Church on Sunday, August 10, 2025 at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the India Mission Fund at First Baptist Church Montgomery, 305 South Perry Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 or https://montgomeryfbc.org/give/