Gilbert LeJuan Alexander, "Juan"

 

Juan was born December 1, 1971, in Nashville, TN to Doris Alexander and the late Gilbert Brown.  He accepted Christ and was baptized at an early age at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in south Nashville where he sang in the youth choir.  He attended Stratford High School in Nashville and completed his education with a General Education Diploma (GED). 

 

He became a father at an early age to his oldest child, Devonta Jones.  He had his share of struggles and moved to Phoenix, AZ in 1995 determined to overcome and start a new life.              And he did just that.  There, he met the love of his life, Kevanda Collins.  They married in 2004 and he became a doting father of four more children Deandre and Lelani Maxwell, and Serenity and SaMaury Alexander.  He and Kevanda later divorced but remained in each other’s lives as co-parents and friends. 

 

His strong work ethic was unmatched.  He was most recently employed, locally, at United Parcel Service as a Package Handler.  He also worked in the telemarketing industry where he was a pleasant, convincing, and persistent salesman who could sell you anything.  He enjoyed his job and often received bonuses and top team sales awards.  A sports fan, he also worked football games for the Arizona Cardinals and got to see them play for free.  Having played little league and intramural sports growing up, he loved sports and was a long time Tennessee Titans fan. 

 

He made the difficult decision to leave Phoenix and move back to Nashville in 2021 to spend more time with his mother.  He missed his kids and grandkids and talked to them every day (multiple times) on text and FaceTime and was heavily involved in their day-to-day home and work life.  He was a father and a friend and often acted silly with them and shared in their inside jokes and funny nicknames. 

 

He was preceded in death by his father, Gilbert Brown, Nashville, TN; oldest sister LaQuedia Alexander of Nashville, TN and grandparents Joe Fred and Willie Mae Alexander,                  Montevallo, AL. 

 

He leaves to mourn five children, Devonta Jones, Denton Texas; Lelani and Deandre Maxwell, Serenity and Samaury Alexander of Phoenix, AZ; three grandchildren, Kamelia Alexander, Ivy Jones, and Riley Wyatt; a strong, loving and supporting mother Doris Alexander, Nashville, TN; two sisters, Latonya Alexander Henry (Frederick), Washington, DC area; Lucretia Alexander, Nashville, TN; one dedicated loving aunt, Nola Cooper, Hendersonville, TN; one uncle, Steve Alexander, Montevallo, AL; cousins Eric James, Oakland, CA; Ashley Cooper, Philadelphia, PA; DeMarco Alexander, Montevallo, AL., Christopher Alexander, Nashville, TN; and Yona Alexander, Birmingham, AL; nephews Jerron Slaughter, Jordan Alexander, Joshua Sawyers who he affectionately called “Polo”, and niece Jada Buford all of Nashville, TN; and half brothers and sister, Norman, Mark, and Metta Brown of Nashville, TN.