Alta Mae Reid Allison, 88, went peacefully to Heaven on Saturday, October 3, 2015 from Baptist Hospital Emergency Room in Memphis. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Dr. John Philip Allison. She is survived by son, Dr. Mike Allison (Vicki); daughter, Phyllis Hall (Ricky); son, Reid Allison (Misti); 9 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives. Alta Mae faithfully prayed for her family and enjoyed taking care of them.

Alta Mae earned several nicknames during her lifetimeTeebie, Aunt T, and later Nanny from the grandchildren. Alta Mae was born December 8, 1926 in Amite, LA to Lena and Elijah Ward Reid. She liked to describe her age as the same age as the Queen. She accepted Jesus as her Savior at a revival at Independence Baptist Church. Her Christian growth was also influenced through the ministry of the Rachel Sims Memorial Mission while her family lived in New Orleans during World War II. Her relationship with Jesus was real and now she sees Him face-to-face.

She graduated from Louisiana College in 1949 and was offered a teaching position in Ida, LAthe hometown of her future husband. She married Philip in 1950 and faithfully served as a pastor''s wife in seven Southern Baptist Churches in Louisiana, Alabama, and New Jersey. In 1972, Philip began serving on the first faculty of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and Alta Mae continued her support including providing a bed and breakfast for many doctoral students. During these years she also taught in many schools including Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis. She retired from Briarcrest in 1988 with 34 years of teaching experience.

If Alta Mae could describe her life, she would tell you about how good God had been to herincluding healing her from osteomyelitis in 1939; a tubal pregnancy in 1951; open heart surgery in 1983; hip replacement in 2006; and stroke in 2014.

Alta Mae loved to maintain her flower gardens including over 180 varieties of daylilies. She especially enjoyed seeing unique flowers on daylilies that she hybridized. Alta Mae was generous to share her daylilies with family and friends.

Alta Mae faithfully took care of Philip during his years with Parkinson''s disease and actively participated in the Mid-South Parkinson''s Disease Support Group. She led their exercise class twice each week.

Alta Mae was an active member of Ridgeway Baptist Church for 40 years including teaching a Ladies Sunday School Class and many other activities.

Visitation will be from 6 PM to 8 PM, on Tuesday, October 6, and 10 AM until service time on Wednesday at Ridgeway Baptist Church, 2500 Ridgeway Road. The funeral services will be at 11 AM on Wednesday, October 7 at Ridgeway. Private interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery East. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorials be sent to Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. J. P. Allison Scholarship Fund, 2095 Appling Road, Cordova, TN 38016.

Forest Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park, East
(901) 382-1000