January 26, 2006

OBITUARIES

Amanda J. Jackson

Amanda J. Jackson (Coons) of Yellow Springs died on Friday, Jan. 20, at Friends Care Community. She was 95.

She was born July 21, 1910, the daughter of John and Mary (Carr) Coons in Selma, Ohio, where she was raised by an aunt. Amanda graduated from Wilberforce University in 1933 with a BS in commercial education. She belonged to the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority.

She continued her education at Greene Memorial Hospital, where she became a licensed practical nurse. She retired in 1976 after 22 years of nursing at Greene Memorial.

Amanda was a member of First Baptist Church in Yellow Springs, where she sang in the senior choir. She loved her church. She was also a member of the Springfield Retirement Set in Springfield and the Culture Club in Xenia.

Amanda was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leonard Melvin Jackson; and a son, John Robert Simpson.

She is survived by two daughters, Mary (Simpson) Cowin of Xenia, and Donna (Simpson) Brown and spouse, Wilbur L. Brown, of Yellow Springs; five grandchildren, Pamela Johnson, Gayle Porter, Juan Cowin, Rhonda Brown and Sheri Brown-Johnson; 10 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Services were held Wednesday, Jan. 25, at the First Baptist Church, with interment following at the Glen Forest Cemetery.

Roberta D. Alexander

Roberta D. Alexander of Yellow Springs died peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 17. She was 79.

She was born on Sept. 28, 1926, in Charlottesville, Va., the daughter of William and Henrietta (Moss) Dabney. Mrs. Alexander was a favored vocal soloist with the Dayton Philharmonic in the 1950s and a professor of voice at Wilberforce University and Antioch College. She was also the organist at Trinity AME Church in Wilberforce.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband of 50 years, Robert L. Alexander.

She is survived by Roberta L. Alexander, Siebe Riedstra, Raymond Moore, Jerden Riedstra, Inez Riedstra and Denise Riedstra, Harro Van Dalen, Michael Moore and Jennifer Moore, Jelle Jan, Michael Jr., Lucas and Noa.

A funeral service was held Wednesday Jan. 25, in the Jackson Lytle Williams Funeral Home. A graveside service followed at the Dayton National Cemetery.