Lillian Burkhalter McAlister

Lillian was born to Lillie Belle Eldridge Burkhalter and Edward Wilson Burkhalter on June 6, 1925, in St. Petersburg, Florida. She is predeceased by siblings Joseph Burkhalter, Louise Henry, and Vernon Burkhalter. Lillian grew up in Augusta, GA and Charlotte, NC, where she attended Central High School and the Presbyterian School of Nursing. She also received her BSN from Queens University. At various times in her life, she taught nursing at Presbyterian, Emory University, and UNC Charlotte Schools of Nursing.

In 1950, Lillian married Fred R. McAlister, who attended Columbia Seminary in Atlanta during their first three years of marriage, followed by his enlisting in the Navy as a Chaplain. Twenty years of Navy service followed, with multiple moves and the birth of three children, with the highlight being a 3 year tour of duty in Japan. Upon Fred’s retirement from the Navy, he and Lillian settled in Charlotte, where Fred continued his ministry as a Presbyterian pastor at several churches. Lillian’s life was busy with various church activities, teaching Sunday School, Women’s Circles, and Bible studies, serving as an Elder, and singing in the choir. She received the Presbyterian Women Honorary Life Membership in recognition of her tireless contributions to church life and ministry. She volunteered in the community as well. She also spent time enjoying her seven grandchildren, who would visit and follow her out to her huge backyard garden to weed and gather. She had quite a green thumb and grew vegetables, fruits, and flowers wherever she lived.

After Fred’s death in 2004, Lillian continued teaching the Bible, and she spent much time painting in oils, eventually completing a portrait of each grandchild. She moved to Raleigh to live with her daughter, MaryBeth, for almost a decade, enjoying many new friends and special time with grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved reading, gardening, painting, furniture refinishing, traveling to Europe and the Holy Land, singing, Bible study, having lunch with friends, and sewing. She was talented in so many ways.

The last two years of her life were spent at The Retreat at Cary Corner, a family care home, where she received extraordinary attention and love. The family will be forever grateful to Tara Lowman and her staff at the Retreat. We also would like to thank 3HC Hospice for their months of excellent care.

She leaves her children Louise McAlister O’Shea and husband Tom; MaryBeth McAlister Brown and husband David; and Andrew Haile McAlister and wife Kitty; 7 grandchildren: Meaghan Clayton (Justin), Aaron Brown (Regina), Ryan O’Shea (Shannon), Jordan Lister (Richard), Anna-Margaret Au (Alan), Kevin O’Shea, and Kyle McAlister; and 13 great grandchildren.

A celebration of her life will be held at Philadelphia Presbyterian Church in Mint Hill, NC on January 13th, 2025 at 2 pm, with her nephew, The Reverend Dr. Jody Welker, officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Burial Park in Mint Hill, NC.

In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be sent to Samaritan's Purse. Link to donate may be found on her site.