Alma E. Persons

Funeral services for Almira “Alma” E. Persons age 82 of Hammond, will be held on Thursday (March 29, 2012) at 3:00pm at the Hammond Presbyterian Church with Pastor Cathy Stevenson & Pastor David Sheppard of the First Congregational Church of Morristown co-officiating. Burial will follow the service at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery.

Calling hours will be held also on Thursday at the Hammond Presbyterian Church from 1:00pm until the time of the service. Mrs. Persons died early Sunday morning (March 25, 2012) at the United Helpers Riverledge Campus in Ogdensburg. Arrangements are with the Fox & Murray Funeral Home.

Surviving are her children Jody Persons & his wife Alicia of Andover, NY and Charlotte “Charlie” Silliman of Bath, NY; grandchildren Matthew, Michael & Victoria Persons, James, Grace & Scott Lathrop & Caterina Ann Persons; great-grandchildren Kylie Ann Persons, Vincent Persons and Conner Lathrop; step-grandchild Ethan McRae, and a special nephew Carlton Kerr of Star Lake.

She was predeceased by her husband Howard in 2008, a brother Charles Mallott Jr. and a sister Vivian Forsythe.

Alma was born on July 10, 1929 in Ogdensburg, NY a daughter of Charles Sr. & Eva H. (Holland) Mallott. She graduated from Hammond High with honors in 1948. Her first marriage to Joseph Arduine ended in divorce. She then married Howard E. Person on July 16, 1969 by a justice of the peace in Pamelia, NY. The couple founded the Hammond Food Pantry and toys for needy children in 1969 in addition to providing care for runaways and people in trouble. Alma & Howard gave a lifetime of commitment to those less fortunate in the Hammond community for over 43 years. She was a member of the Hammond Presbyterian Church; past treasurer for the St. Lawrence County REACT, secretary for the St. Lawrence County Citizens Band Association and a member of the Henry J. Curtis Ladies Auxiliary in Gouverneur.

She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, gardening, cooking and making crafts for children at Christmas. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions have been requested to the Hammond Food Pantry. Condolences can be shared online at www.foxandmurrayfuneralhome.com.