Alice West Alexander

Alice West Dorrier Alexander

Alice West Dorrier Alexander died on Thursday, September 9, 2010, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

She was born on September 2, 1915, in Clifton Forge, Virginia, the daughter of Julia Bentley Wysor West and Thomas Fendol West. She grew up in Salem, Virginia, and attended schools there. She attended Roanoke College and graduated from Harrisonburg State Teachers College, now James Madison University.

She taught school in Ivy Depot, Virginia, and married Charles Richard Dorrier Jr. of Scottsville, Virginia in 1938. After his death in 1985, she married William D. Alexander III of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, who also predeceased her. In addition she was predeceased by her son, Charles Richard Dorrier III.

She was an active member of the Presbyterian Church USA, singing in the choirs of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church of Richmond, Virginia, and First Presbyterian Church of Old Hickory, Tennessee. She led Presbyterian women's organizations in Nashville, Tennessee. After raising her family, she graduated from the O'Moore School of Design in Franklin, Tennessee. She was a founding partner in Surround Interiors, an interior design company in Nashville.

She is survived by three children, Alice Dorrier Bonner of Atlanta, Georgia, and her husband, John T. Bonner, Thomas Bentley Dorrier of Madison, Virginia, and his wife, Barbara M. Kell, and Nancy Lee Dorrier of Davidson, North Carolina, and her partner, Mervil M. Paylor. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Ellen Bonner Oliver of Blacksburg, Virginia, and her husband, Eric Oliver, Charles Dorrier Bonner of Atlanta, Georgia, and his wife, Penny D. Cannon, Thomas Alexander Hazel of Davidson, North North Carolina, and his wife, Stephanie R. Glaser, Alice-Lyle Hazel Hickson of Blythewood, South Carolina, and her husband, Edwin S. Hickson Jr., Charles Richard Dorrier IV and Benjamin Blake Dorrier, both of Alexandria, Virginia. Six great grandchildren survive her, Catalina West Oliver, Robert Phillip Hazel, Thomas Alexander Hazel Jr., Davis Alexander Hickson, Julia Grace Hickson, William Eli Hickson, and Ruth Cannon Bonner. She is also survived by her sister, Margaret West Streat of Gloucester, Virginia, and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at the Scottsville Methodist Church, 11 a.m Saturday, October 23, 2010.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Staff Christmas gift at Martha Jefferson House, 1600 Gordon Avenue, Charlottesville VA 22903; or Hospice of the Piedmont, 675 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 300, Charlottesville VA 22911.

Thacker Brothers Funeral Home in Scottsville is handling the arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.thackerbrothers.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.