Evelyn Alexander Turns 103

Evelyn Alexander celebrated her 103rd birthday July 23. She was born July 23, 1917, and was raised in Brooklyn by Russian immigrant parents with her brother and sister and three orphaned cousins, whose parents died during the 1918 flu pandemic. They all lived in a one-bedroom apartment. At night the cots came out in the living room!

Her father was a tailor and made all their clothes and winter coats. Evelyn’s parents spoke Yiddish and Russian and the family also spoke English.
She graduated early from high school and worked at Macy’s.

In 1932, she married Frank Alexander. They had been married 72 years when he died at age 96. Every time he got promoted, they moved: Michigan, Kentucky, Atlanta, California and back to Atlanta.

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When Frank retired, Evelyn went back to work at Georgia Power, answering phones and helping customers. She worked there for 10 years and made many friends among her co-workers who love her dearly and still keep in touch. They have been seeing “Mrs. A” on her birthday every year for a big lunch at LongHorn Steakhouse.This year, there was no lunch because of COVID, but many sent cards and called.

On her birthday, her son and daughter-in-law Gary and Sam Alexander visited in her living room for lunch, bringing her requested Chick-Fil-A and a big bouquet of flowers.

She FaceTimed with her grandson and great-grandson who live in Los Angeles.
Her other son and daughter-in-law Ken and Glenda Alexander brought Chinese food and more flowers for dinner.

She has two sons and daughters-in-law, three grandsons, five great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Evelyn has a loud, clear voice, is only 4-foot-7 and has a great sense of humor.
She has been living independently, cooking, doing her own laundry and cleaning house until recently, when she needed a caregiver.