SFC (Ret.) Alexander N. Washington was born November 13, 1946 in Cayce, South Carolina to the late Nathaniel and Annie Mae Hickson Washington. He departed this life to be with the Lord on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at Palmetto Health Richland. Like a good soldier, he fought a good fight. After four years, he lost his battle to sinus cancer.

Alexander attended Cayce Elementary and graduated from Lakeview High School in 1965. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966 and did a three-year tour of Germany, after which he received an honorable discharge as a Specialist 4. Upon his return home in 1969, he met the love of his life, Ernestine Washington and married her 13 months later. Their union was blessed with two children. He later joined the U.S. Army Reserve, 108th Training Division, as a weapons instructor and worked on the rifle range. He retired as a Sergeant First Class with a total of 30 years of service. He received his Army Achievement Medal on March 11, 1987 and Certificate of Achievement on August 30, 1990.

After his military service, Alexander was employed with Colite Industries in West Columbia, SC, for five years. He then worked for Carolina Eastman Company, retiring after 30 years. He also attended Midlands Technical College and earned a certificate in Heating and Air Conditioning.

Alexander loved the Lord, his family, classmates, military buddies, the military, and his friends. He enjoyed watching sports on television. He loved life and traveling. He was a member of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Cayce, South Carolina, where he served as a Trustee and member of the Senior Musical Choir.

He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years and devoted caregiver, Ernestine W. Washington; son, Kermit Washington of Columbia, South Carolina, and daughter, Kendra Washington of Bowling Green, Kentucky; two brothers, Booker T. Washington of West Columbia, South Carolina and Warren Washington of Columbia, South Carolina; two sisters, Martha W. (Charles) Earle of West Columbia, South Carolina and Virgie W. (David) Green of Lexington, South Carolina; and aunt, Mrs. Thedora Washington of Cayce, South Carolina. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Reverend Ernest N. Washington, and his nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

He was predeceased by his parents; a sister, Lillie Mae W. Boyd; and a brother, Thedore Stukes.