Robert Edwin Alderson

1946 - 2016

Robert Edwin Alderson

Jackson, TN

Robert Edwin Alderson, 70, went to be with our Lord unexpectedly on Tuesday evening, November 22, 2016, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, due to very rare complications from endocarditis.

Mr. Alderson was born in Jackson, the son of the late Edwin "Ed" Alderson and Narcie Dennison Alderson. He attended West Jackson Elementary, Jackson High School '64, Union University '68, and The University of Tennessee Law School '74. He attended Union on baseball and golf scholarships, and earned his B.A. in Economics and Business. While at Union, Robert served as the Sports Information Director of the university, and was President of the U Club. At his graduation ceremony, he received the Economic Award, the university's top economic honor.

After graduation from Union, Mr. Alderson enlisted in the U.S. Army and graduated third in the Infantry OCS Class of 1969. He was a First Lieutenant in the Adjutant General Corps. He served in Vietnam as an advisor to the Vietnamese forces. Mr. Alderson received two Air Medals, the Bronze Star and the Vietnamese Service Medal.

Robert married the love of his life and native Jacksonian, Jane Matthews Alderson, in 1970 at First Baptist Church, Bemis. He was a loving and devoted husband, and they would have been married forty-seven years on January 31st.

After returning to the states in 1971, Mr. Alderson entered the University of Tennessee College of Law and earned a place on the Dean's List every quarter. He received academic awards for being the top student in two classes—Conflict of Laws and Criminal Process II. He was selected to be a member of the Law Review, the Order of the Coif, Phi Kappa Phi and was a member of Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity. Mr. Alderson graduated first in his class from UT Law School and was honored with the distinguished Green Scholarship, an award bestowed on very few. His most prestigious accolade from the University of Tennessee College of Law came in May 1974 when he was honored with the American Juris Prudence Award. In his later years, Robert returned to serve as a guest speaker, and was invited to be an Honorary Professor and mentor for the School of Law Lecture Series.

Mr. Alderson clerked for the late U.S. Senator Howard Baker Jr. and practiced law from 1973-1986 with the firm of Menzies, Rainey, Kizer and Alderson where he was a senior partner engaged in civil trial, corporate banking, bankruptcy and insurance defense practice. He was a member of the American Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, Madison County Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, and multiple standing bar committees related to his areas of practice. He maintained his attorney license until just before his passing.

In 1986, Mr. Alderson joined the Kirkland's, Inc. retail organization as Senior Vice President of Administration and Development and served in this capacity until 1997. He then became President and Chief Operating Officer until 2001, and was subsequently named President and Chief Executive Officer. He was a driving force behind the Company's expansion from a small regional retailer of 16 stores to a national chain with over 320 stores in 34 states. He successfully led the Company through an initial public offering in 2002. In December 2004, he also began serving on the Board of Directors and continued in this role until his death. Robert officially retired from Kirkland's Inc. in February 2015.

Mr. Alderson served on numerous boards: Board Chair, Episcopal Day School; Vice Chair, University School of Jackson; General Counsel, Union University; Chairman, Union University Board of Regents; Union University President's Advisory Council; President, Rhodes College Parents Council; West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation; Jackson Chamber of Commerce; West Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross; Jackson Exchange Club; Bank of Trenton and Trust Company; Bank of Henderson County; Girl Scouts of Tennessee; Jackson Country Club; Licensed pilot and Commissioner, Jackson-Madison County Airport Authority; AOPA—Aircraft Owner and Pilot Association; Miss Tennessee Scholarship Foundation; Board of Directors for Bojangle's, Inc.; International Shopping Centers; Board of Directors for Kirkland's, Inc.

Mr. Alderson is survived by his mother, Narcie Dennison Alderson and his beloved wife, Jane Matthews Alderson, both of Jackson; his sister, Joyce Alderson Wilson of Richardson, Texas; his two daughters, Amy Alderson Otto and her husband James Otto, and Allison Alderson DeMarcus and her husband Jay DeMarcus, all of Nashville; three adored grandchildren, Ava Otto, and Madeline and Dylan DeMarcus.

Robert was a member of First Baptist Church, Bemis, where he served as a Sunday School teacher for young adults and taught Children's Church. He was also a longtime member of West Jackson Baptist Church, and taught adult Sunday School classes at United Methodist Church. He was a devoted family man who always put his wife and daughters first. Robert loved watching his two daughters play basketball, sing, play the piano and perform on the Miss Tennessee stage with Jane by his side. Affectionately referred to as their precious "Grandy," Mr. Alderson's grandchildren were the recipients of his immeasurable love and the source of his pride and greatest happiness. He was an avid reader, a UT football fan, loved playing tennis and golf with friends, attending music events for his sons-in-law, and going to Hilton Head Island with his family.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ed Alderson, former Chief of Police for the City of Jackson, and his uncle, Tommy Alderson, former Fire Chief for the City of Jackson.

SERVICES: Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church of Jackson, on Friday, December 2, 2016 at 2:00 pm. Visitation will be held in the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church, preceding the service from 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm. Interment will immediately follow at Highland Memorial Gardens.

The family requests that memorials be in the form of contributions to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Cardiology Division, 1211 Medical Center Drive, Nashville, Tennessee 37232.

Arrington Funeral Directors, 148 W. University Parkway, Jackson, TN 38305 731.668.1111 www.arringtonfunerlgroup.com