Alice Dunwoody Bagwell

Alexander Funeral Home of Cleveland announces the death of
Alice Dunwoody Bagwell, 83, died Friday evening January 27, 2012 in hospice care, surrounded by Leland Bagwell, her loving husband of 65 years and her children and grandchildren. Her dedication to her family and her dear friends has been an inspiration to all who are privileged to have shared her unconditional affection, her unceasing encouragement, her deep personal faith and her boundless enthusiasm for life.

Born in Rome, GA on September 26, 1928, Alice was blessed with a loving family. The only daughter of Julia and Earl Dunwoody, she has shared a deep mutual respect and close friendship with her three brothers and their families throughout her life.

A 1945 graduate of Rome Girls High School, Alice acquired her financial, secretarial and administrative skills at Jones Business College in Jacksonville, Florida. At Shorter College, she received the musical and vocal performance training that would serve her so beautifully as a gifted choral singer throughout her life. Though her first job was as financial secretary of the North Rome United Methodist Church, she continued a personal quest for biblical truth that would become the foundation of her success as an administrative assistant for the North Georgia Conference Board of Christian Education in Atlanta; assistant to the Chaplain at Gracewood State School & Hospital in Augusta; a teacher in United Methodist Christian Education seminars throughout north Georgia; and a gifted local church school teacher for more than 60 years. Alice received the Good Neighbor Award from Woodmen of the World and volunteered as coordinator of Mildred's Thrift Shop at Cleveland United Methodist Church for 23 years.

At age 18, Alice fell in love with a handsome farmer who drove into the city at dawn to deliver milk from the family dairy--and she married him a year later. Their great love and lifelong partnership found its purpose when he answered God's call and they together dedicated their lives to serving Christ through parish ministry in the United Methodist Church. As their three children came along, Alice balanced the roles of loving mother, occasional breadwinner and spiritual partner with amazing energy and grace, enlarging the effectiveness of her husband's pastoral care by leading youth, women's and Bible study groups while building lasting friendships among his parishioners, as they together served appointments throughout north Georgia.

A memorial service of celebration will be held at Cleveland United Methodist Church on Sunday, January 29 at 2:30 p.m., with a reception following in the church fellowship hall.

Preceded in death by her brother Bill, her granddaughter Caroline and great-grandson Connor, Alice is survived by her husband Leland, her brothers Mack and Gary Dunwoody; her children David, Don and Julia and their spouses; her grandchildren Ann Marie, Natalie, Abby and Leigh; and her two great-grandchildren Emma and Campbell.

Heartfelt thanks is expressed to Embracing Hands Hospice Care for their loving and skilled care during Alice's transition to the joy of her life eternal.
Memorial donations may be made in memory of Alice Bagwell to the Cleveland Untied Methodist Church

Condolences may be sent to the family of Mrs. Bagwell by visiting www.alexander-funeral.com
Alexander Funeral Home of Cleveland in charge of arrangements