Mrs. Crow

Glenn Breazeale | Jul. 19, 2018

From Mr. O:

Eighty-three years ago, a 19-year-old Beatrice Kerby walked nearly 20 miles from Sand Mountain to interview for a job at Alpine Lodge Camp for Girls. Decades later, none of us will ever be the same. Especially me. Beatrice Kerby Crow left this world at age 101 at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, July 18. She has gone ahead of us to God’s table, and no doubt, it is with great joy that He welcomes a daughter who cared for so many to take a seat at His banquet.

Young boys were comforted by her loving home-style meals on their first trip away from home. Wood Fruitticher Grocery Co. salesmen looked forward all week to a chance to sit down mid-week to a hot-plate lunch with a wise woman. No one walked through the gates of Alpine without being blessed by Mrs. Crow. In Mrs. Crow, we daily encountered a leader who redefined hard work, perseverance, loyalty, strength, and humor.

Countless former campers and counselors return to Alpine and immediately inquire about this woman who was an example for them. Our hope is that on this mountain, God will grow young boys more and more into who he has made them to be. And on this mountain, Mrs. Crow was a role model for boys who were in the midst of becoming men, who were still being formed and shaped. She taught us all the gift of humor for getting through tough times. She walked me through my first year on the mountain, as a 23-year-old camp director. I was very relieved that she knew this mountain and this place longer and better than I did. And she believed in all of us, even when we didn’t deserve it. She not only fed us far better than we deserved; she believed in each of us more than we deserved. It was the way she treated the Alpine family like they were her own. It was the way she persevered when widowed at age 59 and continued to operate a very successful poultry business while still serving three hot meals a day at Alpine Camp for Boys. It was the way she never gave up. It was the way she raised five amazing children.

Save us a place at the table, Mrs. Crow. We are forever grateful for the indelible mark you made on this place and each of us.

Warmly,

Mr. O

Arrangements: Wilson Funeral Home – Fort Payne, AL Visitation: Saturday, July 21, 4 PM to 8 PM – Wilson Funeral Home Funeral: Sunday, July 22, 2 PM – Wilson Funeral Home Memorials : Moon Lake Baptist Church, 4671 Alabama Highway 117, Mentone, AL 35984

Glenn Breazeale
Glenn Breazeale

Like his own father, Glenn grew up as a camper at Alpine for six summers, coming from Jackson, MS each summer. He has served on staff at Alpine since 1997, working full time as Assistant Director from 2003 to 2005 and Director since 2006. Prior to that he gained experience serving in various capacities including cabin counselor, Head Counselor, Head of Project Adventure (Ropes course), Horseback instructor, and Program Director. Glenn’s love of camping and his desire to preserve the traditions of Alpine drew him back to camp to offer young boys the same opportunities he experienced. He met and fell in love with Carter during a Square Dance with Camp DeSoto.