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ATLANTA— Members of the Atlanta City Council on Sept. 16 paid tribute to Alvia Alexander Boone, wife of the late John Oscar Boone, Sr. and daughter of the Late” T.M. ” Theodore Martin and Dorothy Hudson Alexander. Mrs. Boone passed away at the age of 90 on Sept. 9.
As the devoted wife of a legendary civil rights leader and the daughter of a prominent civic leader and pioneering businessman in Atlanta’s insurance industry, Mrs. Boone supported her husband in uplifting the lives of generations of Atlantans. A Spelman College alumnae Class of 1957, Mrs. Boone was a longtime member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Inc. serving and supporting both organizations for decades.
Mrs. Boone’s life and legacy will be celebrated at a funeral service on Friday, Sept. 18, 11 a.m., at Friendship Baptist Church, in Atlanta where she was a lifelong member. The City Council will also formally recognize her life during the ceremony.
Services Entrusted to: Murray Brothers (Cascade Chapel) Funeral Home: Family Hour: Thursday, Sept. 17, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. (Murray Brothers)
Atlanta City Council members offered the following remarks about Mrs. Boone’s life:
Atlanta City Councilmember for District 10, Andrea L. Boone:
“Today, we celebrate the beautiful life of my beloved aunt, Alvia Alexander Boone. For more than 50 years, she blessed my Uncle, John Oscar Boone and our entire family with her love, wisdom and strength filling our lives with countless treasured memories. I am joyful and deeply grateful for every moment we shared together and for the extraordinary legacy she leaves for our family to carry forward.”
Atlanta City Council President Marci Collier Overstreet:
“When I reflect on the life of Alvia Alexander Boone, I am reminded that some of the most consequential people are not those who seek recognition, but those whose steady presence makes the work of others possible. She moved with humility, loved with devotion and helped shape a legacy of service that will endure for generations. Her 90-year journey stands as a beautiful testament to the lasting difference one gracious and purposeful life can make.”
Atlanta City Councilmember for District 3, Byron D. Amos:
“Alvia Alexander Boone’s life reminds us that a person’s greatest impact is often found in the lives they encourage along the way. She was a treasured civic leader whose grace and generous spirit left an enduring impression on all who knew her. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and join them in honoring a remarkable life and legacy.”
Atlanta City Councilmember for District 11, Wayne Martin:
“Alvia Alexander Boone was an amazing woman whose legacy will continue to inspire future generations of Atlantans. I can only hope to build on her impact and model myself off her character, working to create a more equitable and just Atlanta for everyone. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mrs. Boone, especially to my dear colleague, Councilmember Andrea L. Boone.”
Atlanta City Councilmember for District 12, Antonio Lewis:
“The Boone family name has always been associated with true servant leadership. Alvia Alexander Boone’s contributions to this city cannot be measured. She carried herself with a genuine kindness and deep respect for others. She brought warmth and dignity to every room she entered. Her 90 years were a gift, and her presence will be dearly missed.”
Atlanta City Councilmember for Post 1 At-Large, Michael Julian Bond:
“Alvia Alexander Boone was a great lady whose strength was often felt behind the scenes. She stood shoulder to shoulder with her husband, John Boone, a civil and human rights leader who became the first Black person to lead a statewide corrections system in Massachusetts, while quietly serving as a vital counterweight to the demands of his public life and remaining deeply engaged in her community. Mrs. Boone never sought the spotlight, but her steady presence, quiet influence and unwavering support helped sustain a legacy that reached far beyond their home.”
Atlanta City Councilmember for Post 2 At-Large, Matt Westmoreland:
“Atlanta is full of true leaders who deserve more recognition for their life of service. Alvia Alexander Boone was unquestionably one of those leaders. I will strive to channel Ms. Alvia’s spirit of service for Atlanta. I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends, loved ones, and everyone who know the remarkable Alvia Alexander Boone.”
Atlanta City Councilmember for Post 3 At-Large, Eshé Collins:
"As Atlanta’s Post 3 At-Large Councilmember, I join communities across our city in mourning the passing of Mrs. Alvia Alexander Boone, devoted wife of the late John O. Boone, Sr., a legendary civil rights leader and champion for justice. Mrs. Boone’s life and legacy are part of the fabric of Atlanta. She stood alongside her husband throughout his years of service and sacrifice, embodying the strength, faith, and steadfast commitment that helped sustain a family, a movement, and generations committed to a more just Atlanta. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Boone family and all who knew and loved Mrs. Boone. May her life and legacy continue to inspire us. Rest well, Mrs. Boone."
More About Alvia Alexander Boone
Alvia Elizabeth Alexander Boone was born on Dec.17, 1935, to the late Theodore Martin “T. M.” Alexander Sr. and Dorothy Elizabeth Hudson Alexander. She was raised in a close-knit, loving, and highly respected Atlanta family, where faith, family, and caring for others were woven into the fabric of everyday life.
Her father, Theodore Martin “T.M.” Alexander, Sr., was a pioneering businessman and civic leader affectionately known as “Mr. Insurance.” For more than five decades, he was a respected leader in Atlanta’s insurance industry and community affairs. He also played a meaningful role in supporting the Montgomery Bus Boycott by helping secure insurance coverage for vehicles used in the Boycott.
Alvia was the middle child, nestled between her older brother, T. M. Jr., and her baby sister, Dorothy.
Alvia received her early education at Oglethorpe Elementary School and graduated from David T. Howard High School. She graduated from Spelman College in 1957 with a degree in Social Science and a minor in Elementary Education. Alvia began her career as an elementary school social studies teacher before pursuing a master’s degree in social work from Boston University.
While attending a social work conference in Chicago, Alvia was introduced through a mutual friend to John O. Boone Sr., a widower and father of four. What began as an introduction grew into a lasting love, and the two were married in 1974. Their marriage was a true partnership, rooted in devotion, mutual respect, and shared purpose. When Alvia married John, she opened her heart fully to his four children, loving and caring for them as her own. Before ever having a child of her own, Alvia became a mother to them, and over the years she became deeply woven into the life of the Boone family. The love and respect they had for her was returned in full, and those bonds remained strong throughout her life.
Soon after their marriage, Alvia and John welcomed a daughter of their own, Jaclynne Elizabeth Boone, a long-awaited blessing who brought immeasurable joy to Alvia’s life.
As Mrs. Boone, Alvia stood faithfully beside her husband throughout his distinguished career in correctional reform and public service, supporting both his work and the life they created together. In the early 1970s, Massachusetts Governor Francis Sargent and the state legislature advanced a series of correctional reforms through legislative actions. To lead implementation of those reforms, Governor Sargent selected John O. Boone, Sr., as Commissioner of Corrections. Commissioner Boone made history as the first Black Commissioner of Corrections in the United States. Before his appointment, he had risen through the federal prison system and served as Superintendent of the Lorton Federal Corrections Complex in Fairfax, Virginia.
While her husband carried the responsibility of a highly visible leadership role, Alvia remained a constant source of strength, encouragement, wisdom, and grace. She never wavered in supporting the work and causes that were important to him or the broader communities affected by the correctional system. With humility and steadfast purpose, she championed efforts that uplifted individuals, strengthened families, and advanced opportunities and hope for those too often overlooked.
In addition to her work with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Inc., her commitment to community could also be seen in her service as president of the Friends of the East Point Library, a role that reflected both her love of learning and her belief in the importance of institutions that enrich the lives of others.
Alvia Alexander Boone. Credit: Atlanta City Council