Audrey Faye Lee Waggoner-Alford, 71, of Dyersburg, formerly of Charleston, Ill., died on Saturday, January 9, 2010, at Dyersburg Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Alford was a published writer and co-authored an auto-biographical book with her sisters titled Ten Sisters: A True Story. Her story was featured in Family Circle magazine and a PBS documentary was produced featuring the collective stories of Mrs. Alford and her sisters. She co-authored a children's book titled Ten Little Sisters. She also had a love for writing poetry, some of which can be found in the Library of Congress. She was a dedicated and loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend; her heart was always open to everyone. Mrs. Alford's life was patterned after Matthew 25:35-36 which states, "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me." In the spirit of these verses she chose to donate her body to the scientific study of Emphysema, Tuberculosis, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the hope of finding cures.
Above all else, family was her greatest gift and joy.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Dale Alford; six sisters, Jenny Rackley of Onarga, Ill.; Irma Allen of Park Forest, Ill.; Rhita Brniak of Park Forest, Ill.; Vera Barber of Park Forest, Ill.; Paulene Ariel of Park Forest, Ill.; Doris Wenzel of Mahomet, Ill.; and her eight children: Steve Richardson (Linda) of Dyersburg; DeeAnna Crist (Russ) of Schererville, Ind.; Rhonda Stephens (Randy) of Dyersburg; John Breece (Donna) of Dyersburg; Mark Breece (Vicky) of Dyersburg; James Bobo of Dyersburg; Marion Pingle (Matt) of Lawrence, Mich.; and Carla Gammons Fair of Dyersburg. She is also survived by nineteen grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and a multitude of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Glen Waggoner and Olive Ruth Golden; three sisters, Deloris Hart, Mary Margaret Hickmott, Phyllis Ann Ferguson; and two brothers, Carl Waggoner and Jesse Waggoner.

The visitation will be held at Dyersburg Funeral Home on Saturday, January 23 at 12:00 p.m. and memorial service at 1 p.m. at Dyersburg Funeral Home Chapel.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Cunningham Children's Home -- 1301 North Cunningham Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802 -- www.cunninghamhome.org