Alecia Larew Apperson Stanley, 83, of Dublin, died Mar. 19, 2024, at her home.
She was born at Stevens Clinic in Welch, W.Va., on July 2, 1940, and lived in Keystone, W.Va., and Newbern and Dublin. She was a proud 1958 graduate of Dublin High School. She studied piano under Benjamin Medford at Radford College.
She was preceded in death by her husband, David C. Stanley, and her parents, C.T. and Aldah Apperson.
In the summer of 1957, she met David Stanley at church. David and Alecia were married in the Dublin Methodist Church on Sunday, May 17, 1959, and for 59 years they built a life grounded in faith in God and unconditional love for each other. They had five children: Tal (Susan), Tim (Shally), Amy (Yoshiya), Meg (Doug) and Tom (Karen). For Alecia, there were no in-laws, only another child to love. She was Granny to David (Molly), Alecia Ann (Ryan), Sarah (fiancé, Patrick), Lainey, Calvin (Deanna), Blaine, Mark, Dan, Junko, Kiyo, Leiko, Roman, Luke and Finn. She was great-Granny to Lizzie, Tucker, and Nora.
“Miss Alecia,” was an active part of the Dublin United Methodist Church for 74 years. She served as pianist and choir director for more than 40 years. She and her mother helped start the church’s first choir, and Alecia went on to direct the adult, youth, and children’s choirs. She led music at bible schools, Christmas programs, and Easter events. She served on committees, helped plan special observances and celebrations, helped to raise money to build a new church, and worked in the kitchen, always looking for ways to be creative and welcoming in all of the church’s life. Alecia was the organizer and song leader for numerous county-wide Great Day of Methodist Singing events. She was active in the Women’s Society of Christian Service and then the United Methodist Women, holding local, district, and annual conference offices.
The Dublin UMC was for Alecia but one way she lived her faith and calling to love. She was a founding board member for the Pulaski Adult Day Services and Fall Prevention Center. Alecia helped to establish and organize the Dublin United Methodist Learning Circle Preschool, serving on its board of directors for many years. She volunteered at Pulaski Daily Bread and served on its board of directors. Using skills perfected in decades of cooking three meals a day for a “small army,” Alecia delivered pound cakes, pies, cookies, and entire meals as a means of bringing comfort and care to hundreds of people. Teaching piano lessons in her home, through her love of music, and by personal encouragement, she taught hundreds of young people to “let their little light shine.”
Above all else, Alecia’s happiest moments were when all of her family was together at home in Dublin. Her vision and love made possible the annual Camp Stanley, a week-long, grandchildren-only event at Granny and Grandaddy’s house. Through all of this, her family can sing with her, “blest be the tie that binds” and its echoes and ripples go out over the world.
Our family is so very grateful to the congregation of the Dublin United Methodist Church, and to the members of the Mary Breese Circle and the Christians Under Construction Sunday School Class, for all of its love and support. We are also grateful to John Goodall, Mike Cox, Carl Wilburn, Eddie Brown, and Robin Martin for helping to sustain Granny at home.
The family received friends at Dublin United Methodist Church Friday, Mar. 22 and will gather for a Service of Worship Celebrating her life on Saturday, Mar. 23, at 11 a.m. at the church.
The Stanley family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford.
