Funeral services for Mr. Joe Matt Alexander, Sr., age 92 of De Berry, Texas, will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 5, 2007 at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church with Rev. Linda Maxey officiating under the direction of Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home. A Masonic graveside service will follow in the Panola Mt. Zion Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Mr. Alexander passed away on Sunday, December 2, 2007 in Carthage.

Joe Matt Alexander, Sr. was born on June 26, 1915 in Bethany, Texas to Joe and Annie Westmoreland Alexander. Mr. Alexander graduated from Greenwood High School with the class of 1932 and went on to attend Centenary College in Shreveport. He married Sallie Feigh Gulley on October 25, 1952 in Deadwood, Texas. He served his country in the U.S. Navy during WWII where he was assigned to the U.S.S. Abner Reed in the South Pacific Theatre. Mr. Alexander worked for Texas Eastern Gas Transmission as an accountant until his retirement in 1980. Mr. Alexander was a 32nd degree mason in the Waskom Masonic Lodge #1254 A.F. & A.M and a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies and El Karubah Shrine in Shreveport. He was also a member of Kiwanis International and the American Legion Post #14. Mr. Alexander loved fishing and working in his yard. He also enjoyed getting together with friends and watching the Dallas Cowboys. He was a master domino player and was a charter member of the Beach Club. Mr. Alexander participated in the Junior Achievement program at the school for many years. He was also the secretary/treasurer for Panola Mt. Zion Cemetery for many years. Mr. Alexander had lived in De Berry since 1989, moving from Shreveport where he was a member of the Noel U.M.C. and the Men's Sunday School Class. He was currently a member of Mt. Zion U.M.C. near De Berry. Mr. Alexander was preceded in death by his wife, Sallie Feigh Gulley Alexander in 1988; three brothers, Lake, Griffin, and Charles Ray Alexander; and four sisters, Margaret Walker, Geraldine Gillespie, Verna Lou Alexander, and Carolyn Morris.

Mr. Alexander is survived by one son, Joe Matt Alexander, Jr. and wife Sondra of Greenwood; one daughter, Nancy A. Bynum and husband Stith of Shreveport; one sister, Daisie Morris and husband John E. of Carthage; a dear special friend, Eloise Lawless Martin of De Berry; and three grandchildren, Sallie Elizabeth Bynum of Baton Rouge, Brittany Ellen Bynum of Shreveport, and Katherine Melissa Bynum of Shreveport. Numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends also survive Mr. Alexander.

Serving as pallbearers are Joe Matt Alexander, Jr., Travis Gulley, Terry Gulley, Gary Kelley, Allen Kelley, Mack Monday, and Dennis Alexander. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Jerry Davidson, Higgy Davidson, Joe Lynn Lawless, Gene Oden, Dan Parker, Dixie W. Gulley and Wayne Henry Studdard.

If desired, memorials may be made to the Panola Mt. Zion Cemetery Assn. c/o Mr. Gene Oden, 8234 U.S. Hwy. 79 N., De Berry, TX 75639 or the Shiner's Hospital for Children, 3100 Samford Ave., Shreveport, LA 71103.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.