Alice Green Snead

Alyce (she chose to spell her name with a Y upon becoming an adult) was born in Jacksonville, Florida on May 31st, 1924. She was a child of the depression made evident during her life with her love of shopping for clothes and shoes, and she always shared the bounty with whoever loved to shop with her. Alyce graduated from Andrew Jackson High School 1942. While in high school, she was a member of the drill team, the Pepperettes. After the Sunday night Epworth League meetings (which later became known as MYF), the church youth group would go to Alyce’s home to listen to radio programs, such as the Inner Sanctum.

As all of us remember where we were on 9/11, Alyce remembers exactly where she was on December 7th, 1941 when she learned of Pearl Harbor. It was during Epworth League that they were told of the bombing and all were devastated and frightened for the fate their loved ones would face. After graduation from Jackson High School, Alyce began working at the Florida Motor Lines, which would become Florida Greyhound Lines. She grew up with dear friends in simpler times and those relationships shaped her life.

Alyce fell in love with and married her paperboy, Julian Sewell who was home on leave from the Army Air Corps. Together they built a family and home which was child and church centered. Murray Hill Methodist Church became the center of their friendships and their worship. Alyce was a huge support to Julian as he grew his accounting practice and was an active partner in his climb to President of the National Society of Public Accountants. Each year, the family made a driving trip to the national accountants convention, making sure their two children had the privilege of travelling the entire United States by car.

Active in Riverside Chapter of Eastern Star, Alyce found her purpose working with the Rainbow and DeMolay Chapters. She founded the Riverside DeMolay Mother’s Club, and was recognized with the DeMolay Hat’s Off Award. She served as Mother Advisor to the Riverside Rainbow Assembly, and also organized the first Jacksonville Job’s Daughter Bethel, serving as its first Guardian. Alyce, referred to lovingly as “Mom Sewell”, made a significant impact on the lives of her “girls and boys”, many of whom stayed in touch with her through her 100th birthday celebration, held on her annual pilgrimage back home to Florida.

Alyce served in every parent organization for the schools her children attended. From President of the PTA multiple times to Band Parent President (also multiple times) to hosting many class parties in the family swimming pool, she was an active and involved mom who loved her children to the best of her ability. Though Alyce and Julian dissolved their marriage, their friendship continued until Julian’s passing in 2004.

As her nest emptied, she found a home as the Financial Secretary at Ortega Methodist Church where she made new friends. She joined the ballroom dancing club and it was at a dance, across a crowded room, that she saw and then met her second husband, Bill Snead. They shared a love of dance, of social times with friends, the Scottish Rite, and even shopping. Once the grandbabies arrived they visited as often as possible to have time with Ally and TJ.

After Bill’s passing, Alyce filled her days with other civic responsibilities, and became a fixture as the Precinct Chair of the Westside voting precinct. It gave her great pride to run a smooth and efficient operation to help citizens execute their right to vote. She treasured the fact that she was on a first name basis with the Supervisor of Elections. Her leadership skills were also recognized in the Young at Heart Club where she was elected President for many years – until she moved to Austin, Texas.

At the age of 85, Alyce made the choice to leave her beloved Florida and move to Texas to be near her daughter and her family as she aged. On her own, she gave up her driver’s license, citing Austin as too difficult to navigate - then she sold her car with no family help! Alyce volunteered as a poll worker in Eanes, but decided it was too different. She preferred the Florida way to handle voting! She made dear friends in her first community, Querencia, where she helped sponsor and host the Handbags for Hope Campaign for numerous years. Always the mom, she annually took a table of friends to attend A Day to Shine, the gala her daughter founded, where she witnessed and understood that the legacy of service taught at home continued on.

She returned to Florida each year to visit friends and refresh her soul, as she was a Florida girl to the end. Her last journey there was to celebrate her 100th birthday and she loved every minute of that trip.

At 101, Alyce has outlived many family members and cherished friends. Alyce is survived by her son, Dr. James D. Sewell, her daughter, Julie Stevenson, and son-in-law Tom, who facilitated those many Florida trips, her granddaughter, Dr. Allyson Stevenson-King (Andrew), her grandson, TJ Stevenson, (Caroline), and four great-grandchildren. She will be fondly remembered by her step-granddaughter, Deb Stevenson (Jen), and their two sons.

Most of Alyce’s 101 years were spent in good health and active mind. Her longevity and beauty is attributed to her love of ice cream; her desire to always look pretty, dressing for every occasion with shoes that matched her clothes; and the daily use of Oil of Olay! Alyce cared passionately about her family and her friends, and firmly believed in the power of prayer to change situations.

A funeral service will be held on September 30th at 1:00 pm at Murray Hill United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, with interment to follow in Evergreen Cemetery. A second funeral service will be held in Austin, Texas, on October 4th, at 10:30 am at Riverbend Chapel.

The family is grateful that some of you may choose to honor Alyce’s life through a donation and requests either the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, Inc. (www.youthranches.org) or Mobile Loaves and Fishes/Community First! Village (www.mlf.org) be the recipient of your kindness.

The family expresses its gratitude to the many people who crossed Alyce’s path and helped to encourage her and support her in her later years and her transition to Heaven. Special thanks to Steph Reed (her adopted granddaughter), MarNay', Larnice, Bobby, Sabrina, Crystal, and Diana, of Atria Senior Living; Stancy, Monica, Mary, Rosa, and Pearline of CareFor; and Megan, Lucky, Lisa, Amy, Emily, Ruben, Miche, Stacy, Isabel, Andrea, Felicia, Janet, Kaicee, Kyle, Joy, Samantha, Chaundra and Andre at The Reserve at Lake Austin, for their loving attention to Alyce while she was in their care. The compassionate ministration from the Medical Trauma ICU team at Dell Seton and Andrea of Compassus Hospice will be remembered with great appreciation as well.

Like the story of the starfish, the greatest acts of kindness can be offered in the fleetest of moments. You are all Star Throwers to our family.