I’m so sorry for your loss. May God give you all peace and comfort in the days ahead. Sending my love to the family ❤️
— Becky Wheless
Dennis,Michae and family, My heart hurts for you all. I can only imagine what you’re going thru right now. Please know that I am thinking about you and praying God wraps His arms around you and you will find peace and comfort now and in the days months and years to come. Love to you all, Donna
— Donna W. Harris
I will always miss you my sweet sister. The fun childhood we had growing up in the same house and going to the same school and always sharing the same friends. Since we were 18 months apart being born in Buffalo NY and growing up in Decatur Ga everyone thought we were twins. You will always be my almost twin.
Love ❤️ always your sister
Linda Jean Forgette Gennadopoulos
— Linda and Manuel Gennadopoulos
I have so many lovely childhood memories with you in them. I can't wait to the day I get to see you again. Rest in peace beautiful one!
— Amanda R. Smith
Dear Nation/Ivey/Anderson Family It was a privelage to know alecia she was such a beautiful woman An excellent Mother grandmother & great grandmother We will keep her memory alive For the boys Myles & Merritt & any other future children I Love You all my deepest sympathies I LOVE YOU ALL
— LEON G PODURGIEL
She was a wonderful person and she is now with shalee. I so sorry for the loss to all of her family
— Crystal Roundtree
I've known Alecia since 4th grade we went to Medlock Elementary , Shamrock and Druid Hills High School.In our younger days we shared lots of good times,parties,great concerts and cruising around listening to Bob Dylan. I was with her when she first met Dennis at Stacys Drug Store in Decatur.Down the road they got married.I ended up marrying Dennis's good friend David years later.Alecia's mother aka Billie was one of the greatest listeners I've ever known she was always there to give us advice through our teens and 20's. A piece of my heart is with her now.Its left a empty hole.Praise the Lord I can fill it with so many great memories I shared with my friend. David and I send our deepest condolences to family and friends.Please let us know if we can help in anyway.I'm thankful she is no longer in pain.Her suffering is no more.I will always hold her dear to my heart.
Love Sandy & David
— Sandy & David Hagge
Words can't describe how much I miss you. Every emotion hits me everyday. So much love gave me and memories. You never gave up on me, even when I had given up on myself. You held me for my first breath into the world and I held you for your very last. I feel so lost without you. I love you always and forever mama!!!
— Michae (Daughter)
Life is short and sweet. She was beautiful, talented artistic in every way. She left a big family behind and memories about. We were almost twins born 18 months apart our childhood were spent in twined with each other laughing running playing. I will never forget. Those memories will live in my soul forever. My sweet baby sister.
Love eternal your older sister
Linda Jean Forgette Gennadopoulos
— Linda Gennadopoulos
I first met Alecia when I started at Walnut Grove Animal Hospital as a junior in high school. From the very beginning, she was a wonderful and patient mentor who guided me throughout my journey to becoming an RVT. She taught me countless lessons, but most of all, she showed me how to love our clients and patients wholeheartedly every single day.
Her kindness and compassion left behind tremendous shoes to try and fill. Everyone who knew Alecia saw the deep love she had for every animal she encountered—and that love was always returned. Her bright smile and contagious laughter were a highlight to so many, and her presence made the world feel lighter and kinder.
Alecia touched countless lives for the better, including mine. I will always be grateful for the impact she had on me and for the example she set of what it truly means to care with compassion.
— Stephanie Smith
Alecia’s obituary leaves out a big part of her life. That’s understandable because her family didn’t see her at work. Her love for animals didn't stop with her many pets. She started with that love but had the strength, intelligence and understanding to turn that into her career. For nearly 30 years she was a veterinary assistant. Thousands of patients woke from anaesthesia with Alecia comforting them. She rubbed the breath into hundreds of puppies and kittens. She stood at the surgery table for hours holding up the largest, 11 pound, tumour we ever removed. She was the last person hugging way too many pets for their last goodbye.
For many years Alecia and I spent more waking hours with each other than with anyone else. She was a second mom to my daughter, Gay. We lived through family troubles, health issues, children leaving home, menopause. Did we cry on each other’s shoulders or go have a drink together? No. We worked. For both of us, this was where we had to be ok. We were strong together, doing what we had to do no matter how difficult. We knew we could count on each other.
I thought of myself as the brains of the practice. Lisa, at the front desk, was our face, always so welcoming. The many young folks, Valerie, Charlotte, Kelly, Stephanie, Leslie, Josh, Trixie, were our hands but Alecia was our heart. I remember having to explain to her that if we treated every animal regardless of their owners’ capacity to pay, none of us would have a job and then we couldn’t help any of them. Alecia could understand that and still not like it.
We got to laugh together a lot. Most of the time it was at animal antics though sometimes it was at each other. I had to laugh at Alecia jumping up and down, yelling “Get it off, get it off!” with a river otter hanging from her foot. She couldn’t help but laugh when a border collie grabbed the syringe from my hand and stuck the needle in me.
I wish you all could have seen Alecia at work. It would take that to know just how competent, strong, compassionate and giving this side of her was. She was an amazing person and I’m a better person for her having been in my life.
— Vivian McWilliams
Alecia, what an honor and privilege it was to know her and work with her for so many years. She was the greatest example of extending grace and having compassion, for not only every animal she worked with but every person and client she came across. I remember meeting Alecia on my first day as a kennel assistant at Walnut Grove and being greeted with her kindness and welcoming spirit. She went on to teach me so much as a shy, 17 year old with little skill but a hungry mind and love for vet med and animals. She was there as a mentor and encouraging colleague as I went through vet tech school eventually getting my RVT and becoming full time and having the privilege to work along side her for so many years. She taught me what it was to be loyal, to love what you do and who you work with, to extend kindness and understanding. I can hear her say “ you never know what they’re going through” and “your signature is on your work”. She was a great mentor, friend, and will be missed by so many. My thoughts and prayers are with Dennis, Michae and family.
— Bridget Grant