Robert “Bobby” Preston McAlexander, 73
June 27, 1951 – November 12, 2024
Robert “Bobby” Preston McAlexander, 73, passed away on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at North Mississippi Medical Center.
Funeral services for Mr. McAlexander will be held at 3 PM Thursday, November 14, 2024, at Frist Methodist Church in Holly Springs, MS with Bro. Adam Hawks officiating. Visitation will be from 1 PM until 3 PM on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at First Methodist Church in Holly Springs and burial will follow in the Hillcrest cemetery in the city of Holly Springs, MS.
He was born on June 27, 1951, to Robert Marion and Verna Rogers McAlexander in Marshall County, Mississippi. On August 11, 1972, he married his beloved wife, Martha Hurdle and together they raised three sons, Joey, Preston and Jeff. He loved to hunt, raise bird dogs, was a field trial judge and was a life patron member of The Bird Dog Foundation, Inc.
As the son of a game warden, he learned about hunting at an early age. Bobby spent many Saturday mornings in his youth hunting quail along with a good bird dog. When he married Martha, he also became the son her father, Joe Hurdle, never had. Together, Bobby and Joe began farming and field trialing and this became a way of life. Later, he followed in his father-in-law’s footsteps and began judging prestigious trials such as The Southern Championship, The Oklahoma Championship, just to name a few. He was honored to serve as a judge of The National Championship, held on the Ames Plantation in Grand Junction, TN for over ten years and was a founding member of the Marshall County Field Trial Club. Most of the Marshall County Club members today credit their start in field trialing to Mr. McAlexander. In the words quoted by his late father-in-law, Joe, “A field trial judge should be above reproach and should conduct himself as such.” He took these words to heart and was always fair and honest when in the judicial saddle.
Mr. McAlexander is survived by his three sons, Joey McAlexander (Elise) of Holly Springs, Preston McAlexander (Meredith) of Hernando, and Jeff McAlexander (Kassie) of Holly Springs, two sisters, Dianne Dickerson and Brenda Shaw, two brothers, Larry and Doug McAlexander and six grandchildren, Bobby, Emily Kate, Eva, Will, Collins and Martha Kay McAlexander.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved wife of 40 years Martha Hurdle McAlexander.
Pallbearers will be Logan Bailey, Elton Bray, Jason Burch, Jonathan Burch, Manny Burch, Paul Burch, Bob Dickerson and Ronnie Jones.
Family request donations be directed to First Methodist Church, P.O. Box 147 Holly Springs, MS 38635 and the National Field Trial Association, 4275 Buford Ellington Road Grand Junction, TN 38039.
Ripley Funeral Home invites you to share memories with the McAlexander family.
Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.
