Margie Alford Keese – age 100 transitioned home
to be with the Lord on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at
Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, Knoxville,
TN. She is preceded in death by her loving husband,
Bryant Keese; parents, Freeman and Rosa Alford;
brothers, Maceo Sr., Herman, Deeman, Freeman,
and Edward Lee Alford; sisters, Elizabeth (Noody)
Alford Smith and Deloris Alford Tims.

She leaves to cherish her memory loving and
devoted nephew, Michael Alford, Chattanooga, TN
and niece, Jacqueline Alford-Stanfield, Covington,
GA along with other special nieces and nephews
that were close to her heart; Teresa, Sharon, Maceo, Jr., Marzell and Theron Alford; sister-n-law, Mrs. Edna Keese-Sanders; daughter by marriage, Mrs.
Crystal Bell-Styles, devoted cousins, Katrina Bush-Capshaw and Jarrett Bush.

She was raised in the Mechanicsville and Lonsdale communities; and attended Sam E. Hill Elementary School, graduating from Austin High School and attended Knoxville College. She joined Rogers Memorial Baptist Church at the age of 15 and has been a faithful member for 85 years where she served in several capacities, as a student at Knoxville College she worked as the Church Secretary and lent her talents to work with the young people’s choir. Because of her unwavering love for the Seniors she became
the first president of the Joy Club Senior Ministry (Just Older Youth) and was also faithful in the JoAnna P. Moore Missionary Society, now known as the Mission Ministry.

She worked for the Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC), previously known as the Knoxville Housing Authority for 25 years,
serving Thousands of residents and taking special care of seniors at Austin Homes, Lonsdale Homes and the Walter P. Taylor Homes.

In 1981, Ms. Margie saved the Walter P. Taylor Senior Center from closing
and led the campaign to have it renamed the Dr. Lee Williams Complex, after
the late physician and civic leader; and she also served as the Grand Marshal
of the Lonsdale Homecoming Parade in 2022; and her contributions to the
people of Knoxville are too many to list. She was an inspiration to all who
knew her. To know Margie was to love her. She loved her community and
all that she encountered during her daily walk in service.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, July 30, 2023 from 1:30-2:30
p.m. with Celebration of Life Service to follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Unity
Mortuary Chapel with Rev A. D. Baxter officiating.

The final resting place will be held at the TN State Veterans Cemetery (Lyons
View) on Monday July 31, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. A dove release will conclude.

Unity Mortuary is honored to serve this family. www.unitymortuary1979.com.