I heard of Aletha's passing a good while after her funeral.  Didn't know how to contact her family then I saw this, the Coolidge Alumni Memorials.  Aletha and I were great friends during high school. I spent as much time at her house as I did at mine.  I have so many fond memories of her.  She taught me how to cook a few things.  She was a great cook.  I wanted my hair highlighted at age 17 and Aletha said she could do it.  It turned out to be a colossal mess but to this day I wear my hair with highlights -- much better now.  I was at Aletha's house when President Kennedy was shot.  I can't remember why we were out of school.  It was either Junior or Kenny who ran down stairs telling us to turn on the TV that Kennedy had been shot.  Of course, we didn't believe him but there it was.  Like most, we cried like he was a member of our family the entire day.  Oh, there are so many memories.  Aletha could sing and I couldn't.  She tried her best to teach me but there was no hope..  The only time that I sounded half way decent was when I stood next to her singing.  Aletha was a caregiver, a mother before her time caring for her younger siblings.  She was so much fun to be around.  She made household chores look easy laughing all the time.  I loved this, my  Sister-Friend.  I loved her deeply.  After school, I moved to Chicago and we lost track of each other.  I returned in 1975.  While we did connect a few times, our life's responsibilities seem to never afford that relationship we had as kids growing up.  To the family, I extend deepest sympathy to you and even though this message comes years after her passing, I needed to share with you my memories of Aletha, a great friend, class mate, and an all time jewel of a person.  Most sincerely.

Rest in peace my friend-Paul And Cooledge

So saddened to hear of Aletha's death. One of the greatest smiles one could ever see! Think of Aletha often when driving on Kansas Ave. John Parker '65