Visitation for Mr. Cofield will be Sunday, March 21, 2021 from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM at the funeral home.

Our beloved Alex Cofield, III, was born on January 26th, 1935, to the late Mrs. Annie Ruby Ezekiel Cofield and Mr. Alex Cofield, Jr. in Russell County, Alabama. Alex confessed Christ at an early age at his family's home church of Saint John African Methodist Episcopal Church in Fort Mitchell, Alabama, and attended Catholic grade-school in Columbus, Georgia.

After his mother's passing while he was the tender age of 11, he moved to Phenix City, Alabama, to be under the care of his loving grandmother, Hattie Ezekiel, and his aunt and uncle, Julia Mae and Robert Ezekiel. During this time, he formed a special bond with his cousins who he considered as siblings—Carrie B, Dorothy, Bobbie Jean, and Robert Jr.

He later moved back to Fort Mitchell, Alabama, to be with his father and stepmother, Marie Cofield, and stepsister, Vivian, and graduated from Mount Olive High school. After his father's passing, Alex had the honor of managing Cofield's Grocery, a staple of the community for many decades prior to his ownership. He was always proud to know that his father's store was the first Black grocery store in Fort Mitchell.

Thereafter, Alex formed a noteworthy career in the United States Army as a Specialist E4. He served during the Berlin Crisis and was stationed in France, Germany, Fort Meade (Maryland), Fort Lee (Virginia), and Fort Carson (Colorado) as a Radiotype Operator. He also led several student battalions as a Telecommunications Instructor of Morse Code and Army Post Bus Driver at Fort Benning (Georgia) until his Honorable Discharge. He then continued to work Civil Service until his retirement.

Alex was a man of many "firsts." Instilled at an early age with an ethic of hard work, Alex prided himself on being a businessman. Not only did he continue to own and manage Fort Mitchell's first Black-owned grocery store alongside his wife while also serving in the military, they later rebranded the store into Cofield's Floral Shop and Gifts, which still remains a vibrant floral boutique today. A very industrious man, Alex owned the first Black mobile home park in Fort Mitchell to allow Black military men and their families housing near Fort Benning. He also drove the first county-owned school bus for Russell County Schools.

Alex will be remembered for his community-minded work and servant's heart. He was very devoted to his church at Saint John, serving as an Emeritus Steward, an active member of the Finance Committee, a past Trustee member, and a member of the Sons of Allen. He was also a volunteer firefighter for Mount Olive Sunderland Volunteer Fire Department for many years before his installation as a Board Member in 1979. In 2011, he was honored for his dedication and volunteerism of 32 years, in which he continued to serve as an honorary member until his passing in 2021.

Above all, the special place in Alex's heart was always his family. He was united in Holy Matrimony with Mrs. Alpha Mae Owens Cofield on September 6 ^th , 1961. During their wonderful 59 years together, they grew a family of two children, Alex (Sandy) Cofield, IV of Fort Mitchell, Alabama, Chonda LaFaye (Herman) Chadwick of Phenix City, Alabama; four granddaughters and a grandson who will cherish the sweet memories of their "Papa": Kristina Redd, Kirsten Redd, Imani Cofield, Alexa Cofield and Ikeith Toney.

Also sharing a piece of his heart, he leaves behind special memories with his stepsister, Vivian Jefferies of Saginaw, Michigan; three sisters-in-law—Gertrude Smith of Fort Mitchell, Alabama,  Mable Reid of Cleveland, Ohio, and Lillie Moseley of Mobile, Alabama; Johnnie Fred Hunter and Claude Brooks who he considered his "Chicago brothers"; a special goddaughter, Rosie Goshay; and a cousin he enjoyed visiting with, Rev. John Cofield.

Alex's granddaughters will think of Papa very dearly and very fondly. They will miss being surprised with a Golden Donut in the evening or Freeze Pop late at night, and they will also laugh at his casual interest in QVC and Amazon. When they continue to water his garden, they will think of him and smile. They will miss being greeted with, "Hey Pooh!," and miss his funny life tales and infectious laughter.