Mrs. Phyllis Potthast Alford

A celebration of the life of Mrs. Phyllis Potthast Alford, 90, of Henderson, will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, December 29, 2025, at First Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Debbie Tipps officiating, under the direction of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the Great Hall of the church.

Mrs. Alford will be laid to rest at Lakewood Memorial Park.

Mrs. Alford passed from this life on December 26, 2025, in Henderson. She was born March 29, 1935, in San Antonio to the late Eugene and Mabel Potthast and was a life-long United Methodist. Phyllis graduated from Alamo Heights High School in 1953 and went on to attend Southern Methodist University where she graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Education. It was at SMU where she met the love of her life, Landon Alford, and the two were married on April 18, 1957, and shared 56 years together until Mr. Alford's passing in 2013.

Mrs. Alford shared her husband's deep love of family and devoted her life to taking care of her family and home. Mr. and Mrs. Alford played a huge part in shaping the lives of their children and grandchildren. She also cared deeply for the city of Henderson, her home since 1959, and she dedicated her time, her talents and her resources to making her community a better place. Her work through the Alford and Rayford Foundations locally and MD Anderson Cancer Center will reach far beyond her time here on earth. Mrs. Alford served on multiple civic and service organizations but was most proud of the Renaissance Club which she worked tirelessly for 66 years to build and ensure its legacy.

The epitome of a southern lady, one would always be greeted with a smile and a warm welcome. Keeping the focus on her friends, she would always ask about your family and their well-being ahead of her own interests.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years Landon Alford, grandson Charles Knox Alford, and her sister Cynthia Potthast.

Survivors include her children Dr. Eugene Landon Alford and wife Mary Long Alford of Houston, Benson Warren Alford and wife Lisa King Alford of Tyler, and David Rogers Alford and wife Brooke Box Alford of Henderson; grandchildren John Alford and wife Lauren and their children Harper, Landon and William, Bess Alford Gore and husband Darren, Lauren Alford Sinovic and husband Seth and their children Hattie and Eveline, Madeline Alford and husband Zach Lanier, Amelia Alford Turner and husband Ethan, Eveline Alford McNabb and husband Lehman, Tucker King and wife Brittany and their children Wyatt and Pierce, and Tanner King; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other family, and many friends. The family would also like to acknowledge and express their sincere gratitude to Soledad Rezendez, Lou Barron and Vanessa Barron for their dedication and love of Mrs. Alford over the last few years.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Renaissance Club at P.O. Box 1322, Henderson, TX 75653.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com.