Tornado victim remembered as fun-loving and generous

Loving. Generous. Fun. Giving. Family members said Allison Alexander was the life of every party.

“She never a met stranger,” Yvette Raymond, Alexander’s sister, said. “She was full of love. She didn’t have much herself, but she would have given anyone anything or feed anyone who needed it. She always did.”

Alexander, 56, was killed last week when a tornado touched down in Killona. She was home with her boyfriend and three grandchildren at the time.

“Her daughter and three grandkids lived with her, and the grandkids were home,” Raymond said.

One of Alexander’s grandchildren required hip surgery following the tornado, while the other two were spared major injuries.

“They heard the siren but by the time they were able to move the trailer just burst,” Raymond said. “They lost everything. It was like a scary movie.”

Alexander, a mother of four with 13 grandchildren, was born and raised in Killona and grew up in a tight-knit family.

“Growing up we had four girls and two boys,” Raymond said. “Our parents raised us to be so close. What I’ll miss the most about her is her craziness … she was the life of the party. I’ll just miss her … we’re all going to miss her.”

Raymond said Alexander was the aunt that everyone gravitated to.

“There was never a ‘no’ from her,” Raymond said laughing. “We just want her remembered as the loving, kind person she was, and we want to continue her legacy of love.”

Raymond’s twin sister Yvonne Bell said her main comfort during this difficult time is knowing that Alexander, her sister, was a woman of faith.

“We know that Allison is in a better place,” Bell said. “God saw fit to take her away from the trouble of this world. She had a big heart to help other people.”

Alexander’s niece Ashanty Barnett has organized a GoFundMe for Alexander’s family titled “Killona Tornado Victim Allison Alexander.”

“Allison was more like my big sister,” Barnett said. “She was a very, very funny person. She never met a stranger, and if you met her you would remember her. She would talk to people she just met like she knew them her entire life.”

Barnett said that she and her entire family sincerely appreciate the love and support that they have received from the community.

“It’s overwhelming … so overwhelming … good overwhelming,” she said. “God has been so good. People have been calling and helping. The overflowing love and support … it’s unbelievable.”