Alice Jewel Townsend Tyson

Alice Jewel Townsend Tyson, 100, died peacefully at home with family by her side on Thursday, April 23, 2020. She was born on February 17, 1920 in Pine Level, Alabama to parents James Murray Townsend and Cora Elizabeth Parker Townsend. She is preceded in death by her husband James Arthur Tyson in 2003, her father in 1937, her mother in 1970, a sister Dorothy Elizabeth Townsend in 1918 and a brother James Murray Townsend Jr. in 1999. After the loss of Dorothy at such a young age, Alice’s mother prayed for another girl, and when she was born her mother said, “It was like a jewel was given to her” and thus the name Alice Jewel. While growing up she was a member of Pine Level Baptist Church. Alice graduated from Ramer High School in 1937 and from Huntingdon College in 1941 where she was in the May Day Court and crowned May Queen in 1941.

After graduation she married James Arthur in 1942 and lived in Montgomery until moving with her family to the island of Okinawa while her husband served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during the reconstruction period after WW2. She made many friends and loved the time spent there.

Coming back to the U.S.A. in 1958, Alice and family lived in Virginia before moving to Mountain Brook, Alabama. She was a member of South Highlands Presbyterian Church and Mountain Brook Independent Church and was also a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Pelham Chapter #67.

In 1996 she returned to her birth place of Pine Level and renewed her membership at Pine Level Baptist Church.

She is survived by her five children, sons - James Arthur Tyson Jr., Murray Lewis Tyson, Neil Townsend Tyson (Deborah), daughters - Elizabeth Anne Tyson Gentry (William) and Alice Miller Tyson Hargett (Robert-deceased) and beloved former daughter in-law Rebecca Absher Tyson. Grandchildren - Evelyn Hargett Rawanduzy (Hasan), Robert Neil Hargett (Amy), Lauren Elizabeth Tyson Stevens (Justin), Elizabeth Hughes Tyson McKinney (Colton), Leah Suzanne Tyson, Neil Townsend Tyson, Jr., Parker Elizabeth Tyson, and James William Hudson Tyson; great- grandchildren - Rebecca Alice Galan, Anthony Martin Galan (Dyan), Molly Ezell Hargett, Levi Nathaniel Hargett; and great-great grandchild - Dante Antonio Galan; and many beloved cousins.

Alice’s life was focused on the Bible and Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. She spent much of her time reading the Bible and was well versed in the Scriptures. She hand wrote many letters to family and friends over the years and would include in them a verse of Scripture, a word of encouragement and a reference to Jesus Christ. She prayed without ceasing for so many. She will be greatly missed.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00pm on Tuesday, April 28th at Pine Level Baptist Church, Pastor Bob Dempsey officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Pine Level Baptist Church, P.O. Box 5, Pine Level, AL 36065, or your favorite charity.