Alice Merrie (McDonald) Hartfield

Again, death has invaded the rank of the McDonald/ Hartfield family and carried away a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, classmate, and friend. Another link from our family chain has been broken and things will never be the same. On Sunday, July 2, 2023, Alice pulled off corruptible and mortal, put on incorruptible and immortality, and transitioned peacefully to her heavenly home.

Alice Merrie(McDonald) Hartfield, affectionately called “Too-Loo by family was born on February 9,1957, in Hughes, Arkansas to the late Cora Lee and Caesar McDonald Jr. In 1967 at the age of 10, Alice relocated to Benton Harbor where she remained until her death. She was the oldest of her two siblings, the late Ricky McDonald and her baby sister Delores McDonald. At an early age, Alice accepted Christ as her Personal Savior. Alice was educated in the Benton Harbor Area School District and was a proud graduate of the Benton Harbor High Class of 1975. She served on the 1975 Class Committee. Alice served her community through her employment with the Senior Nutrition Services Region 1V- Meals on Wheels. Alice was loved and respected by her co-workers and clients.

Alice was a caring, loving, and humble person.  Alice loved her family. The Lord knew that Alice was a special person and would be a great mother. He blessed her with two sons Dontra and Kerry. She loved her boys and they loved her. The three of them had a mother-son bond that was like no other. There was nothing that Alice wouldn’t do for her sons and in return, they felt the same way about her. When Dontra and Kerry were on the Benton Harbor Tiger Varsity Basketball Team, you could look up in the stands and see Alice supporting her sons.

Alice was a strong woman and a fighter. She went through a lot due to her health but she fought until the end. The Lord saw the fight in Alice but he also saw that she was getting tired. On July 2, 2023, he called her home to be with him so that she wouldn’t have to suffer here on earth any longer.

Alice will forever be remembered in the hearts of her two sons: Dontra (Tiffany) McDonald and Kerry Hartfield Jr. of Benton Harbor, MI; one sister, Delores McDonald of Benton Harbor MI, one God brother (Alvin (Lois) Walls of Muskegon, MI; three grandsons, Dontra (Cassie) McDonald Jr. of Columbia, South Carolina, Keshawn Wade of Benton Harbor, MI, and Jordan Spencer of Victorville, California; four bonus grandchildren, Kiarra Hill, Janae’ah Hill, Kalay’ah Samuel, and John Heard of Benton Harbor, MI; eight great-grandchildren; two aunts, Sherry Watson and Ella (Perry) Amour of Elgin, Illinois; one uncle, Walter Montgomery of Deerfield Beach, Florida; three special friends, Cass Parnell, Deborah Dancer, and Mosella Maye and a host of cousins, classmates, and friends.

Alice was preceded in death by her father, Caesar McDonald Jr., her mother, Cora Lee McDonald; maternal grandparents, Harriet Montgomery and J.B. Watson; paternal grandparents, Caesar and Florence McDonald; three aunts, Mary Tillman, Annie Laura Goss, and Ella Marie Harris; three uncles, Calvin and Arthur Montgomery, and Bennie Mumford; one niece, Cora Coranta McDonald, and a host of cousins.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Robbins Brother in Benton Harbor.