Finding purpose through service

In an instant, Lee Ann Alexander went from celebrating 30 years of marriage with her husband, Ron Alexander, to becoming a widow and learning to navigate life without him.

Her story begins nearly nine and a half years ago on May 28, 2015, on an idyllic beach in Florida where she and Ron were joyfully honoring three decades of married life. While she stayed in their room for a leisurely morning sipping coffee, Ron headed out to the ocean with his backpack and favorite book. She ventured down to the beach later in the day to join him and instead was met with a crowd that had gathered along the shore. Officials informed her that her husband had been caught in a riptide and was on his way to the hospital.

“I was whisked away to the hospital and got the news that I was dreading,” Alexander said. “The EMTs had worked and worked on him, but he had not recovered and was gone. Just like that, I went from celebrating 30 years with my husband to a new status of being a widow.”

Alexander went through a period of shock and numbness that was filled with funeral preparations, visitors, meals, cards, and flowers. Once all of the well-wishes and visits from those who mourned and deeply grieved Ron had gone, she faced a stark reality.

“It seemed as though I had come to the end of my own resources,” Alexander recalled. “Being a person of faith, I began to turn towards God in a way that was raw and open. I found myself journaling every day, reading a wide variety of spiritual books, listening to spiritual podcasts, and creating art.”

With a career that included being an elementary school music teacher, teaching private piano lessons, and 25 years as the Director of Children’s Ministry, church pianist, and Children’s Music Director at Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church, Alexander was no stranger to creative thinking.

“Being a musician, I have always been creative, but never before had I really enjoyed creating visual art. I found that time would stand still when I was creating art, and it became therapy for me. The gift of creating and writing in a journal every day became a daily practice, and I began to combine journaling with art. Over time, I began teaching classes around the area and even at the church.”

Not long after, Alexander decided to retire from her role at Saxe Gotha, marking the beginning of yet another new chapter in her life. Retirement, coupled with the profound loss of her husband, left everything feeling different—almost as if the world had shifted beneath her. Seeking clarity and peace, she embarked on a silent retreat at Mepkin Abbey in Moncks Corner, SC. It was there, in the tranquil solitude of the abbey, that she found a sense of renewal. The retreat provided her with a quiet space to reflect deeply, opening her eyes to the possibilities of what her future could hold and the path she was ready to follow.

“I felt this one idea that continued to bubble up over and over,” Alexander shared. “I felt it was my task to empty myself into my community and the world. The idea of just leaving it all on the field gave me purpose and even excitement.”

She reflected back on a time that she had visited Kenya on a mission trip after Ron’s death. What she saw and witnessed there became one of her new callings.

“The mission trip to Kenya was life-changing,” Alexander said. “It reinforced that I had a love for the people of Africa. I became active in a ministry that worked with the country of South Sudan. One of the biggest needs there is the need for education. A very small percentage of children attend school because it is hard to find and pay teachers. It is even more rare for girls to obtain an education. After meeting some bright and deserving young people, I began sponsoring several students in their education journey.”

Alexander began working at the Farmhouse Market and Antiques in Lexington by opening up her own booth there. It was work she cherished as she made an abundance of new friends along with discovering a talent for finding beautiful treasures to clean up and resell in her booth. It didn’t take long before she decided to connect her booth sales with her passion for helping students in South Sudan.

“It just dawned on me one day that the profits I made at the shop would be perfect to use for my sponsorship of the students,” Alexander said. “I began to tell friends about it and slowly, I began receiving donations of items that I could use. The donations boosted the profits that I was making, enabling me to sponsor more students. As of now, I have seven students that I sponsor along with their families. Several of these students are working on college degrees, a few are in secondary levels, and two are in primary levels.”

Students who receive sponsorship are not only encouraged to continue their education through to the college level but they are also inspired to return to their villages, where they can begin to make a profound and lasting impact. It’s the hopeful beginning of a journey to create meaningful change within the very community that shaped them, sparking inspiration in the hearts of other young children. Alexander invites everyone she knows and meets to join in this global movement of transformation. By donating antiques, vintage treasures, dishes, furniture, art, collectibles, and more to her booth, they can help raise crucial funds to sponsor even more students, enabling them to pursue their education and, in turn, give back to their communities.

Alexander’s servant’s heart is hard at work in our Lexington community, too. She volunteers on a regular basis with Lexington Extended Care where she teaches art journaling with the residents there. Her Bernedoodle, Scout, goes along with her as she visits residents in the memory care unit and the Carroll Campbell Center.

“I have also become a board member for Mental Health America of South Carolina,” Alexander said. “This nonprofit works with folks who are dealing with mental illness and need support. They provide a variety of housing options for the people who need it, and they also offer day centers that include classes and educational opportunities. I have made many new friends and have seen the wonderful work that Mental Health America is doing in our community and our state.”

Beyond her local missions and ones a world away, Alexander also has found space in her heart for service throughout the United States, too. “One thing that I have learned over the past few years is by shortening the distance between me and those who are very different from me, it removes any worries, fears, and stereotypes,” Alexander said. “Proximity to others has been the key for me as I step into new areas and even unchartered waters.”

“I have learned about an entirely different world,” Alexander said. “Prisons, clemency, executions, case law, abolitionists around the United States, appeals processes, methods used for the death penalty, and so much more. I now have a new friend on death row. I have learned that he is remorseful and striving to be the best person he can be even in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. I am no longer afraid of coming into proximity with someone that many would simply write off as a monster. I have learned so much from my friend about God’s love and the fact that his image is in every human being.”

From Lexington to Oklahoma, and even as far as South Sudan, Alexander has transformed her life in the wake of her husband’s passing, repurposing her journey in ways she never imagined. What began as a period of deep loss has blossomed into a profound calling—a renewed sense of meaning and a greater purpose found in selflessly serving others. Each step she takes now is not just a step forward, but a testament to her resilience and dedication to making the world a better place, one act of kindness at a time.

“I have chosen to pour myself out in a variety of ways,” Alexander said. “I have learned that one can’t help everyone and sometimes you need to focus on a few things that are important to you. I love life and love the freedom that comes with emptying out into the world day by day. God is good and He is working all around us. Positive change and working for the common good is possible. It happens one small action at a time!”

• Ministry for South Sudan
• Mental Health in SC
• Death Row PenPal Project

Interested in learning more? Connect with Lee Ann at alexfam@sc.rr.com.