Alene S. McCorkle

Mrs. Alene S. McCorkle was born to Robert Brown and Roxie Elizabeth Stewart July 27, 1915, in Union County. She was born into a loving church-going family of 4 brothers who had tragically lost an infant daughter. Alene was brought to Charlotte in Mecklenburg County when she was 5 months old. An oak tree was planted at that time which is now the largest, prettiest, strongest tree you will see on Oaklawn Avenue. Later her fifth and youngest brother was born. She dearly loved all of her family and was devoted to her five brothers who taught her to fight and take care of herself at a very young age. Alene Kate Stewart continued to be a fighter all of her life and a strong believer in God. She once wrote “one of the biggest things I do is pray. I pray not only for myself but I pray for others. I am not asking all the time in my prayers. Most of the time I am giving thanks for the blessings that have been bestowed on me.” “Sometimes teachers have a hard time getting an education but you can get where you want to be if you are willing to work hard, hold the head up high, treat everyone right and serve the one on high.” She started school at age 5 at Biddleville Elementary, a 4 room wooden school house near the railroad tracks off Beatties Ford Road. However, being too young, she was not enrolled but allowed to stay. At age 6, having already spent a year in 1st grade, she was officially enrolled in 2nd grade. At age 11 she entered the first and only black Charlotte high school, Second Ward. She graduated from the 11th grade at age 15. Not a penny to go to college, she went to work for a family as a maid and cook. The next year, Alene received a scholarship our of no where to go to college. Alene S. McCorkle Graduated from N. C. C. For Negroes now N.C. Central University with a degree in math and science which she taught for 31 years at S.W. and 7 years at Garringer. She also attended Duke, Univ of NC, Davidson, Ball State, NC State Extension, and Columbia She was married to Paris P. McCorkle for 61 years until his death in 2002. To this union was born one daughter, Elizabeth Rose. She was not the oldest member of Gethsemane but had been an active member longer than anyone else. Alene McCorkle has been a member of N.E.A., A K A Sorority, AARP, Young at Heart, Congenial, a great worker in her church as a class leader, 1st assistant director of Enrichment Program, assistant Sunday school teacher, Trustee, directed plays for years, active in Sr. Choir as director, singer for over 70 years, Missionary Society, Progressive Club, 2nd Mile Club, Director of Jr. Choir, Teacher of ministries to the children, bought and dyed eggs for all children in the church, with sometimes enough for choir members, and most members in the church and even for a nursing home where her brother was a patient. At S. W. She was Y-teen director, Supervisor of boys club (Esquires), student Council Advisor, Seamstress for drama class, made prom dresses for some of her needy students. One girl used her prom dress as her wedding dress. Made a prom dress for a West Charlotte student in which she was later buried after an accidental death. She taught students who have become active in all professions. One receiver of a prom dress was Berlinda Tolbet who played Jenny Willis in the TV Show The Jeffersons. Alene fixed hair (beautician), crocheted beautiful gifts, sewed other items which she gave away. She visited the sick, sometimes carried them to doctors and waited in offices and hospital rooms. She had extraordinary capabilities and interests in a wide range of areas and boundless enthusiasm for whatever task she undertook. She enjoyed using her talents to the fullest, she demanded high standards and was able to attain miraculous accomplishments in a short length of time. Among her many awards and honors, in February, 2005, she was honored by the S.W. Class of 47 and other students whose lives she had influenced. She was presented the highest NC recognition: The Award of the Honor of the Long Leaf Pine from the Gov of N. C. by the Honorable Senator Charlie Dannelly. She traveled to England, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Panama. She also traveled to islands in the Carribean. Until her physical problems began at age 96, she would spend part of the year in Puerto Rico with her daughter Elizabeth Rose and son-in-law David Kitterman and part in Charlotte with her other daughter Ernestine and her husband Ernest James. At age 96, she still took time to read, play pinochle, euchre on the computer, solitaire, scrabble, crochet, sew, do jigsaw puzzles, cook and freeze vegetables picked from her daughter’s garden. At 99, she was still playing Boggle. People would often be amazed at her age and ask her how she managed to continue to look so good and be so active. She would quickly say that she did not mess around with old people, she kept herself young by associating with young people. Many people heard and took heed. The one really true and constant thing about Mrs. Alene S. McCorkle, above all else in this world was her love for her only grand-child David Dunster Kitterman, Jr. If there was one thing she worshipped on this earth, it would be David. There was a mutual admiration, respect and honor between the two; no greater love. She also loved her godson Earl Thomas Bullard Jr. Around the age of 93, one of her former students requested her to write a series of essays for his blog. At that time she began to do some serious thinking about her past. She realized and marveled that God had performed many MIRACLES in her life. She wrote “ Can’t remember all the miracles but there have been many. If you sit down and think you will remember ones you had. Even living so long, three scores and 10 have passed us all. That in itself is one. Be thankful.” She began numbering her miracles. Maybe the 1st was giving her parents a girl after losing one early in their marriage in a tragic accident. The second one was being able to go to school at age 5 without her name being on the roll and going to 2nd grade before she was even counted. Third when she was in 5th grade at Myers Street School she fell from the 2nd floor of the old building to the 1st floor which was concrete, she was knocked unconscious but nothing was broken and she was back in school the next day in fine condition. Fourth at age 11 she was able to play the organ for her church choir even though most of her music had been taught to her by her father who had never had a music lesson. Fifth- she graduated from high school at age 15. She was able to stop working in domestic service when Sixth-she was given a scholarship to college by a principal who did not know her nor had ever seen her. The college was N.C. College for Negroes, now North Carolina Central University in Durham, N.C. Seventh, a cousin who was not well known to her at the time was living in Durham and gave her a place in her home, fed her, and clothed her the first year she was in college. Eighth- After she completed her 4 years of education and began her teaching career at Second Ward High School she was able to pay off two mortgages her parents had on their home. 9th When she asked God to help her at a time she was about to set her niece’s house on fire. Bacon in a frying pan had caught fire but immediately stopped when she asked God for help. 10th When she got stuck in an elevator in a vacant building in Puerto Rico and was able to barely squeeze thru the elevator doors. 11th When she found herself driving a car in Puerto Rico during an election time not knowing where she was nor knowing how to get back to where she had come from with traffic heavy and streets crowded, being able to speak NO Spanish. All she could say was “no” and “si”. She was the highly respected, and dearly loved matriarch of an extended family. Alene was sincere, ernest, and loyal to her friends and self-sacrificing. Family members called her strong, diplomatic, loving, intelligent and witty. All who knew her, knew her greatest strength was her faith. She truly believed that she was favored. Other people would often come to her because they believed in her prayers. One often heard her simple prayer “Oh, Lord help me”. When asked what she was saying, she would say she was talking to God, thanking him for his many blessings because he was so good to her. She believed in, expected and received miracles. Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Elizabeth Rose Kitterman (David Sr.), a niece that she raised like a daughter, Ernestine S. James (Ernest), grandson David D. Kitterman, Jr(Heidi), great-grandson David D. Kitterman III, a godson, Earl Thomas Bullard Jr (Tammy), nieces Waynette Bullard(Earl), Deanna Highe, Frances Brooks, nephews Joseph White, Theodore Stewart(Audrey) and a host of other close nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Alene S. McCorkle

July 27, 1915 - December 13, 2014