Sterling Reinard Alford III, 61, born June 21, 1948, in Mobile, died Dec. 18, 2009 at Fairhope Health and Rehab, a local nursing home facility, following a lengthy battle with a rare degenerative brain disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.
He was a fourth-generation Baldwin Countian, the great-grandson of “Major” James D. Leak of Bay Minette, Baldwin County’s first game warden and the grandson of Sterling Reinard Alford Sr. and Alice Leak Alford of Bay Minette.
He was a member of First Baptist Church of Fairhope and formerly a long-time member of First Baptist Church of Bay Minette. He was a 1967 graduate of BCHS in Bay Minette and he completed courses of study at Faulkner State Community College (formerly Yancy State) in Bay Minette in 1969 and courses in drafting technology and design at Southwest State Technology College in Mobile in 1974.
He served in the Army National Guard of Alabama from 1967-1973. He enjoyed a career in drafting and was employed for 26 years as an Engineering Representative and Senior Construction Coordinator by the engineering firm, Walk-Haydel and Associates of New Orleans; was an accomplished builder, landscaper, photographer and chef.
He spent six months sailing the Caribbean, a trip which later became known as Sterling's Great Adventure. He loved cars and built and raced them as a younger man.
He was preceded in death by his father, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Sterling Reinard Alford Jr., his mother, Ann Benton Alford, both of Bay Minette; and his former wife, Gail Williams Alford of Mobile.
Survivors include a sister, Ren Alford (Sam) Hinote of Montrose; niece, Amy Hinote Mutual of Orange Beach; two nephews, U.S. Air Force Col. Samuel Clinton (Myra) Hinote of Enid, Okla., and David Michael Hinote of Fairhope; grant nieces, Meg and Holly Hinote; and grand nephew, Hunter Hinote all of Enid; a first cousin, Sue Stephens (Lee) Steverson of Fairhope; other cousins and extended family.
Funeral services were held Monday, Dec. 21 at Norris Funeral Home in Bay Minette with Dr. Jerry Henry officiating. Burial followed at Bay Minette Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Jim Bryars, Verdis Hudson, George Nelson, Howard Smith, Patrick Mutual and Zach Mutual.
The family requests memorial donations be made to First Baptist Church Fairhope Building Fund, 300 S. Section St., Fairhope, AL 36532 or to CurePSP, Executive Plaza III, 11350 McCormick Road Suite 906, Hunt Valley, MD, 21031, www.psp.org.
Arrangements were made by Norris Funeral Home, Bay Minette.
