Alice Faye Bennett Nelson was born in Ware County, Waycross, Georgia on February 1, 1941, to the late James Bennett and Mary Pauline Brown (Phillips-Goodman), both preceding her in death. She was the first born of twelve children. Though she didn’t have any children, she claimed a child and called her “Spook”, whom she nourished and loved with her whole heart.
Alice Faye matriculated through George Washington Carver Elementary and High School in Douglas, Georgia. She graduated in 1958 at the age of 15. Thereafter, she attended Gillespie School of Licensed Practical Nurses in Cordele, Georgia. She continued her education in Miami, Florida, where earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and received her Registered Nurse License.
Alice Faye was employed at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida, for over 47 years. During her tenure there, her duties ranged from Nursing to Administration. She really loved her job. She later retired in 2007, when her health began to fail. She could always be counted on by her family for advice on medical procedures.
Alice Faye was a strong, loving, friendly, caring, and compassionate person with a witty sense of humor. She was always showing feelings of sympathy for the suffering of others and often with a desire to help others and the less fortunate. She can be further described as the unsung philanthropist of the family, with a heartfelt desire to improve the material, social, and spiritual welfare of not only her entire family but that of humanity, through charitable donations and community activities. She was an active and dedicated member of the Nu Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. for the past 23 years. She definitely lived the sorority’s mission of “Service for Humanity” in her local community and abroad. Alice Faye loved to travel. During her extended time in Ghana, West Africa, she participated in the education and training of nursing students.
On Wednesday, January 21, 2015, God said, “Alice my child, you lived for 73 years, 11 months, 20days, for a total of 26,998 days. You’ve kept the faith, you ran a good race and fought a good fight, and it’s time to rest from your labor. It’s time to come home!”
She leaves sacred memories to: two very devoted nieces and god-daughter, Paula Y. Goodman of Tampa, Fl, Charline Harmon of Douglas, Ga and Denise Barnes of Nassau Bahamas, whom she affectionately referred to as “her girls”, a very special nephew, Ronald L. Phillips (Shelia) of Miami, Fl, eight sisters, Lois Hicks, Amelia Wilson, both of Douglas, Ga., Jacqueline Decosta-Watt of Miami, Fl, Fostina Gainey(Gregory) of Augusta, Ga, Arnesta Reed of Columbus, Ga, Mae Lois Moyer (Wheeler) of Bridgeport, CT, Ernestine Kerr and Ruth Mallory, both of Atlanta, Ga. ; six brothers, Jerome Phillips (Shirley) of Douglas, Ga, Gerald B. Goodman (Sherman) of Tallahassee, FL, Frankie Goodman of Columbus, Ga, Prezell Goodman(Amelia) of Tampa, Fl, Foster Goodman (Vanessa) of Clarksville, TN and Lorenzo Goodman of Douglas, Ga. Very dear friends, Barbara Barnes of Nassau Bahamas, Mattie Jackson, Eileen Tull of St. Michael, Barbados, Martha Archer and John Franklin, all three of Miami, Fl; and several generations of nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.

Our prayers goes out to the family. Funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m.on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Wray, GA