Connie Long Alley

Connie Long Alley, age 84, of Louisville, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on October 9, 2025. Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, Connie spent much of her life in North Carolina before later moving to Louisville, where she and her husband made their home.

Connie was the beloved only child of Modena Cook Long and Harry Gordon Long. She was the devoted wife of 65 years to Henry “Jerry” Alley. Connie was a loving mother to three daughters — Melissa Alley Kitchen, Melanie Alley Tharrington (Chris), and Meredyth Alley Boyle (Tim) — and a cherished grandmother to five grandchildren: David Marshall Kitchen(Haylee), Lauren Elizabeth Kitchen, Madeleine Elizabeth Tharrington, Weston Timothy Boyle, and Camden Isaiah Boyle. After her girls grew up she and Jerry had many dogs, but arguably her favorite was Daisy to whom Connie and Jerry were the best dog parents ever!

Connie’s faith was at the center of her life. She and Jerry raised their daughters at Christ Church United Methodist on Brownsboro Road in Louisville, instilling in them the importance of placing Jesus first, others second and then yourself. Connie was active in her church, participating in the Seekers Sunday School class and the Seekers Women’s Bible Study. She especially enjoyed the Bad Girls of the Bible series by Liz Curtis Higgs, finding inspiration and lessons in its pages and in Liz’s teachings at Christ Church United Methodist.

Her childhood was spent in Newell, NC on her grandparents’ farm surrounded by animals, land to run free, and wildflowers to pick. She was raised not only by her parents but also by her grandparents, Mamaw and Papaw Long. In her final days, she recalled constant stories of her dogs and cows, and her sweet times delivering meals in the community with Mamaw, and traveling with her Uncle Johnny’s orchestra.

Her educational journey began at Greensboro College, where she formed lifelong friendships and flourished in an all-women’s collegiate setting. After college, Connie served as an agricultural extension agent in North Carolina. Once her family began to grow, she embraced the role of homemaker with passion — cooking meals for her family, decorating the home top to bottom for holidays, intentionally making family traditions for her girls, and year after year, serving as a room parent for her daughters’ school classes.

Once her children were in school, Connie earned a teaching certificate and dedicated many years to teaching special-needs children. She was a fierce advocate for her students, combining a caring heart with a determined spirit to stand up for their rights and well-being. She loved each of her students as if they were her own, another lesson she passed down to her girls, especially Missie, who followed in her mother‘s footsteps as a teacher.

Outside of her professional and church life, Connie was an avid tennis player. She loved the game’s competitive spirit and built a rich social life around her tennis friends. In their adult years, she followed Melanie and Meredyth’s tennis endeavors, giving daily tips and asking for updates. She wanted to know why you didn’t win! She was also adventurous and loved to travel — she journeyed all over Europe with family and especially treasured her times at Litchfield By the Sea, South Carolina, where she made many of her happiest memories: beach days, fresh seafood dinners, game nights in the den, and laughter-filled moments with grandchildren and dear friends, especially her best friends, Judy and John Kiser and their family.

During her final week, Connie was cared for on the 4th floor of Park Tower at Baptist East Hospital in the hospice/palliative care unit. It was one of the most blessed weeks of her life filled with dignity, intentional care, love, and reverent service. We will be forever grateful to Dr. McQueen, the nursing staff, chaplains, and all who lovingly tended to her — including the ultrasound technologist who captured her heartbeat in a stuffed animal, and a nurse from another floor, Dara Huff, who visited daily during her breaks. Connie’s last days before meeting her Savior were filled with prayers, the laying on of hands, and hymns being played by her bedside. She couldn’t have planned it better! (Ephesians 3:20)

Connie’s legacy is one of faith, sacrificial love, passionate advocacy, and a life beautifully lived in service to her family, her God, and to others.

Service Information

Visitation: Monday, October 27 at Christ Church United Methodist, 4614 Brownsboro Road, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM

Service: 11:00 AM in the chapel

Interment: Private family interment at 12:30 PM

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Christ Church United Methodist, Louisville, KY.