Alice Owens Mayberry was born on May 8, 1921 and died of natural causes on Friday, January 7, 2022.
She leaves behind three daughters, Patricia Mayberry Andrews, Janet “Jaen” Mayberry and Nancy Mayberry, and one grandson Riley E. Andrews and his wife Rong Andrews.
She was preceded in death by her spouse, William A. Mayberry in 2012, and three brothers, Clyde (married to Sophia), Elmer, and Roy (married to Anna Mae) Owens.
Born in West Scranton, Pennsylvania to a musical family she received a Bachelor degree in Music, and a Master’s degree in Music from Columbia University. She achieved a PhD in Native American studies.
During World War II, she toured with a USO Troop throughout the Pacific Theatre.
She was a Fellow in the American Guild of Organists and was music and choral director for churches in Pennsylvania, California, Long Island, New Jersey, Maine, Texas, and Louisiana. She was the choral director and organist for 40 years at the Algiers United Methodist Church – a position from which she retired at the age of 94.
Alice also taught music in public schools in those same localities, and in the International School of the Netherlands. While working in the Jefferson Parish Public School System, she left classroom teaching and finished her amazing career as an Audio-Visual Media Consultant. As an educator, she touched the lives of thousands of young people.
Alice loved new experiences, travel, photography, antiques, and floral arranging. She loved life, and never willingly wasted a moment of it. She will be truly missed by her family and numerous friends.
A Memorial Service will be held in her honor on Saturday, January 22 at 1:00 pm at the Mothe Funeral Home on 1300 Valette Street in Algiers, Louisiana, presided over by Rev. Walter Parker.
Doors will be open at 12PM for early arrivals. Masks are requested. Small to medium floral arrangements will be acceptable. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Algiers United Methodist Church on Opelousas, or to the USO would be appreciated.