Anna Ellison Butler Alexander (abt. 1865 - 1947)

Born about 1865 in Saint Simons Island, Glynn, Georgia, United States

Died 11 Nov 1947 at about age 82 in Pennick, Glynn, Georgia, United States

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Biography

Anna Alexander is Notable.

"Good Shepherd Episcopal School near Brunswick, part of a historic African American community and adjoining church were founded by Anna Ellison Butler Alexander, who was named the first African American deaconess in the Episcopal Church in 1907. In 1998, Alexander was named a saint of Georgia by the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia."^[1]

Anna was born about 1865, although she reportedly gave much later dates "because she feared that she would be forbidden to continue to work in her final years as too old (later diocesan records list it as 1878 and her death certificate lists 1880)." She was the daughter of former slaves, James "Aleck" Alexander and Daphne Alexander. She was the last of 11 children.^[2]

The family later moved to Pennick, Glynn County, Georgia, where Anna taught school. She then moved to Darien, Georgia where she and her sisters were teachers. While still in Darien, in 1894, she also founded a mission in Pennick with the help of the Brunswick priest of St. Athanasius' Episcopal Church. The church later was renamed Church of the Good Shepard. Anna also built a school next to the church.

In the 1900 census Anna (age 22), Assistant Matron, was the single assistant matron (assistant) of Laura J Reynolds in St Paul Normal and Industrial School, Brunswick, Virginia.^[3]

In 1907, she was consecrated as a deaconess, the first and only African-American deaconess, by Bishop Cleland Kinloch Nelson. "The diocese of Georgia split in 1907 and Nelson chose to associate with the new Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. His successor in the Diocese of Georgia, Frederick Focke Reese, excluded African-Americans from church government in the diocese, and extended almost no diocesan financial support to African-Americans...Alexander became the agent for governmental and private aid for both black and white residents, and enlisted neighbors of both races to help. Before his death, Reese recognized her decades of service. During the summers of her last decade, Alexander cooked for Camp Reese, the then-new (and now former) Diocesan summer camp on St. Simons Island, and brought small groups of African-American boys and girls – who were formally barred as campers but could enjoy the area. In her later years, Alexander worked alongside other deaconesses, including Madeline Dunlap of Chicago."^[2]

In the 1920 census Deacman [sic] (age 40), Farmer, was the single head of household in Militia District 1356, Glynn, Georgia. Anna was head of household. Her mother, Daphne, and brother, J E Alexander, were living with her.^[4]

Anna died on September 24, 1947, according to her Find A Grave: Memorial #39432369. However, her death certificate states she died on 11 Nov 1947.^[5] Burial was at Camp Reese. In 1998, the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia granted her sainthood. Her body was reinterred in 2004 on the grounds of the Good Shepherd Church, which she founded, in Pennick, Glynn County, Georgia.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ African American sites top list of Georgia's 10 'Places in Peril'
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Anna Alexander," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
3. ↑ 1900 Census: "1900 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1900; Census Place: St Paul Normal and Industrial School, Brunswick, Virginia; Roll: 1702; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 0108; FHL microfilm: 1241702
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7602 #71331291 (accessed 26 July 2022)
   Anna E B Alexander (22), single assistant matron (assistant), Assistant Matron, in household of Laura J Reynolds (32) in St Paul Normal and Industrial School, Brunswick, Virginia. Born in Georgia, USA.
4. ↑ 1920 Census: "1920 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1920; Census Place: Militia District 1356, Glynn, Georgia; Roll: T625_259; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 99
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6061 #4534702 (accessed 26 July 2022)
   Deacman Elexander (40), single, Farmer, head of household in Militia District 1356, Glynn, Georgia. Born in Georgia.
5. ↑ Death: "Georgia, U.S., Death Index, 1919-1998"
   Georgia Health Department, Office of Vital Records; Georgia, USA; Indexes of Vital Records for Georgia: Deaths, 1919-1998; Certificate Number: 24079
   Ancestry Record 5426 #914674 (accessed 26 July 2022)
   Anna E B Alexander death 17 Nov 1947 (age 66) in Glynn, Georgia, USA.
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39432369/anna-ellison-alexander: accessed 26 July 2022), memorial page for Anna Ellison Butler Alexander (1865–24 Sep 1947), Find A Grave: Memorial #39432369, citing Good Shepherd's Church Grounds, Pennick, Glynn County, Georgia, USA; Maintained by James Smith (contributor 46934670).

See also:

• Grave photo used with permission of The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, "Places in Peril"