Alice Louise "Babydoll" Freeman

Mrs. Alice Louise “Babydoll” Freeman

Sunrise: April 9, 1943 Sunset November 2, 2022

Mrs. Freeman affectionately known as “Babydoll” was born April 9, 1943 in Alliance, Ohio the daughter of Excell Kirksey and Katherine Pollard Oliver. She attended Franklin, Stanton, and Alliance High School. She later received her diploma in 1983.

She married her husband Ralph Freeman on February 14, 1959. They moved to Youngstown, in October 1964. She was a member of the Antioch Baptist Church. Babydoll loved to sew, doing hair, dressing up and planting flowers in her yard. She really loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was the owner of BD’s Fashion and Design.

Alice had worked with the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority for 12 years as a Resident Advocate retiring in 2008. She loved working with the residents of Westlake Homes, especially her seniors and the youth. Babydoll was President of the Westlake Resident Council, President of the NRP Resident Council – RAB Board member of the Mahoning-Youngstown Community Action Partnership (MYCAP) – Head Start Policy Council, AARP – Westlake, NRP Block Watch, and Book Club. Alice received numerous awards for volunteering for different project. She was a member of the Sassy Senior Group.

The Honorable James Tito Brown Mayor for the City of Youngstown, Ohio recognized Alice on June 23, 2020 with a proclamation citing her commitment to serving the Historical Youngstown Westlake Community now The Village at Arlington.

Alice was proceeded in death by her parents Excell Kirksey and Katheryn Pollard Oliver. Her husband Ralph Freeman died April 11, 1987, and a daughter her beloved Yvonne Freeman of home, and her brothers, Wilbert Oliver, George L. Miles, Jr., and Edward Kirksey, Jr., her maternal parents Ameala and William Pollard, her paternal parents Mattie and Dan Kirksey, and a special Godmother Virginia Dixon. She leaves those to cherish her memory: Chief Nathan E. (Katrelle) Pollard of Hampton, Georgia., David (Carol) Freeman of Youngstown, Ohio, Dion Freeman of Alliance, Ohio, and Tamara Lynn Freeman of Lithonia, Georgia. Brother Barry Williams of Alliance, Ohio, sister Debra (Pookie) Lyles, North Las Vegas, Nevada. Her grandkids (29), especially Lamont and Carlena who she helped raise, 19 great grand kids, 7 foster grandkids Yvonne, Teiona Gowdy who she and her daughter Yvonne help raise along with George, Nikkie, and RoRo Jones. A niece Joyce Brown of Atlanta, Georgia, 3 nephews, 3 brother In-laws, 4 sister in-laws, and a host of Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins.

Babydoll will be truly missed by her special friends: Marion “Bootsy” Harris, Jackie Lemon – who was like her sister, her friends at YMHA, MYCAP, SASSY and NRP and 2 special friends James Frazier and Paul Robbins.

Visitation will be Friday, November 11, 2022 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. at the L. E. Black, Phillips & Holden Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.  Due to the pandemic, all guests are asked to wear masks and observe social distancing.

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