SFC Ezra Alfred

Ezra Alfred was born on September 27, 1934 in Ville Platte, Louisiana to Reverend Edward Alfred and Lillian (Leah) Lavigne Alfred. He departed this life on May 18, 2023 at the Veterans Hospital in Fayetteville, N.C. Ezra accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at the St. John Baptist Church in Ville Platte. During his youth, he excelled academically, and in football, basketball and boxing. He graduated from Ville Platte High School in 1954, where he was actively involved in student government. Ezra joined the U.S. Army on July 16, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois and after basic training was assigned to Fort Bragg for Airborne Training and then to the 88AAA (Anti-Aircraft-Artillery) of the 82nd Airborne Division. He deployed to Germany and while in Germany, he was assigned to work in Turkey on special assignment. He was later involved in the Liberation of Grenada and the Mark Liberation of Panama. Following these assignments, he served in Okinawa, Thailand and Korea. Ezra deployed to Vietnam twice before his retirement in 1974 at the rank of Sergeant First Class. While in the military, Ezra met and married the love of his life, Dixie Morgan and they enjoyed many years of marriage as a team raising their children Phyllis and Eric, and participating in a wide range of church and community activities. After Ezra’s retirement from the Army, he joined Frito-Lay where he worked for over 20 years, and retired as a District Manager in 1996. Ezra earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Shaw University and for many years served as the Vice-President of Shaw’s Fayetteville Alumni Chapter. He was a faithful member of Greater First Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon for many years. Ezra is preceded in death by his wife Dixie Morgan Alfred, his parents Edward and Leah Alfred, and 5 siblings (Herbert, Herman, Julia, Edward Jr., and Brenda). Left to mourn his loss are his children, Phyllis (Tim) of Calabash, NC; and Eric (Pam) of Charlotte, NC; 4 grandchildren, Jonathan (Alexandra), Evan (Brianna), Gillian, and Nathan; 3 great-grandchildren, Nolan, Liam and Grace; 4 siblings, Beatrice of Ville Platte, LA, Rayfield (Cynthia) of Jacksonville, FL; BeAna and Helen of Houston, Texas; sisters-in-law, Susie Morgan and Doretha Morgan; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

SFC Ezra Alfred

September 27, 1934 - May 18, 2023