Alice Gray Wiggers Houston, the beloved oldest daughter of Francis Earl and Sally Cooke Wiggers, was born March 3, 1940, in Indianola, Mississippi. Alice Gray grew up in Indianola, where she was loved by all who knew her. She was Miss Indianola High School, the Forestry Queen, Class Favorite, and Most Beautiful, and the list could continue. She was also known throughout the Mississippi Delta as the DJ for her radio program "Rock Away with Alice Gray". Alice attended Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi where she majored in English, minored in Latin and graduated summa cum laude in three years, in 1961. In June 1961, she married her high school sweetheart, Bradley Baker. Alice taught English and Latin at Chastain Junior High School in Jackson, Mississippi, until they welcomed Jeffery Grey Baker (Houston) into this world in June 1964. Tragically, Bradley died December 14, 1964.

In 1965 Alice Gray was reintroduced to R.K. (Sonny) Houston, Jr. by mutual close friends. The four had attended Millsaps together, and the friends decided to play matchmaker. Alice and Sonny were the perfect match. They fell in love and married in September 1966. The couple and Jeff, who Sonny adopted, settled in Sonny's hometown, Bay Springs, Mississippi. This beautiful love story and marriage grew into a family of five over the years with the addition of Jennifer Cooke Houston (Edwards) and John Denson Houston.  Alice, or Gigi, as she is affectionately known to her four lovely granddaughters, was a wonderful mother and a magical grandmother. She introduced her children and her grandchildren to the wonder of fairy tales and a love of literature, history, art, and travel. She loved learning. She loved reading to her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and children in Bay Springs. During her life in Bay Springs, she served as a social worker, Brownie troop leader, band and football parent, and youth Sunday school teacher. She enjoyed instilling a love of reading and learning in children of all ages.

Alice was also deeply involved in her family genealogy and was a devoted member of the Mississippi State Society of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) where she rose to the elected State Office of Recording Secretary.  Her genealogical research resulted in induction to many genealogical societies including First Families of Mississippi, The Jamestowne Society, National Society Sons and daughters of the Pilgrims, and The National Society of Magna Charta Dames .

Alice is preceded in death by her parents, Francis Earl Wiggers and Sally Cooke Wiggers Rawls; her step-father, Fred Rawls; and her brother, Francis Earl Wiggers, Jr. She is survived by her loving husband, Sonny and her children: Jeff Houston, wife, Michelle, daughters Riley and Audrey; her daughter, Jenny Houston Edwards, husband John, daughters Emily Whittaker, husband Sam, and Jayne Grey; and her son, John Denson Houston and wife, Nora Blake. She is also survived by her sisters, Carolyn Patricia Duncan and Mary Alex Rawls, her sister-in-law, Vickie Wiggers (Earl), her sister-in-law, Patsy Houston Higgins, her cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Visitation will take place Thursday, December 29, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Bay Springs Baptist Church. The service will follow at 2:00 p.m. with a graveside service immediately after in the Bay Springs Cemetery.

An online guestbook may be signed at www.colonialchapelbaysprings.com