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An only child, Alley was born in Springhlll in northern Webster Parish near the [[Arkansas]] state line, to Arthur Robert Alley (1910-1998) and the former Edna Gallemore (c. 1918-2010).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?pid=144583662|title=Edna Alley obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=August 9, 2010|accessdate=July 27, 2018}}</ref> His father, a native of Conroe, [[Texas]], worked for thirty-eight years in the maintenance of International Paper Company in Springhill, a firm since dissolved. He was a deacon at Central Baptist Church in Springhill but later relocated to Alexandria to be near his son and two granddaughters, Lynn A. Wheelis (born April 1, 1960) and Lisa A. Smith. Then he joined Calvary Baptist Church at 5011 Jackson Street in Alexandria, where his son was the pastor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/217736437/|title=Arthur Robert Alley|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=September 12, 1998|accessdate=July 27, 2018}}</ref>

An only child, Alley was born in Springhlll in northern Webster Parish near the [[Arkansas]] state line, to Arthur Robert Alley (1910-1998) and the former Edna Gallemore (c. 1918-2010).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?pid=144583662|title=Edna Alley obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=August 9, 2010|accessdate=July 27, 2018}}</ref> His father, a native of Conroe, [[Texas]], worked for thirty-eight years in the maintenance of International Paper Company in Springhill, a firm since dissolved. He was a deacon at Central Baptist Church in Springhill but later relocated to Alexandria to be near his son and two granddaughters, Lynn A. Wheelis (born April 1, 1960) and Lisa A. Smith. Then he joined Calvary Baptist Church at 5011 Jackson Street in Alexandria, where his son was the pastor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/217736437/|title=Arthur Robert Alley|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=September 12, 1998|accessdate=July 27, 2018}}</ref>

Alley graduated from Springhll High School and the Baptist-affiliated [[Louisiana College]] in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] prior to his pastorate at Calvary church.<ref name=facebook>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/john.alley.545|title=John Alley|publisher=[[Facebook]]|accessdate=July 27, 2018}]</ref> He is married to the former Carolyn Byrd (born November 16, 1934).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/carolyn-alley/e8321324106|title=Carolyn Alley|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=July 27, 2018}}</ref>

Alley graduated from Springhll High School and the Baptist-affiliated [[Louisiana College]] in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] prior to his pastorate at Calvary church.<ref name=facebook>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/john.alley.545|title=John Alley|publisher=[[Facebook]]|accessdate=July 27, 2018}}</ref> He is married to the former Carolyn Byrd (born November 16, 1934).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/carolyn-alley/e8321324106|title=Carolyn Alley|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=July 27, 2018}}</ref>

In 1997,  Alley participated in a committee of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, based in Alexandria, to select a consensus choice as president of the body. The convention settled on Bob Anderson, the pastor emeritus of Parkview Baptist Church in [[Baton Rouge]], who came to heal political wounds that had divided the Baptists for a number of years into politically [[conservative]] and  "moderate" wings. Alley said that he believed the Baptists were "slowly but surely dissipating our strength and not giving our best energies to winning the lost in Louisiana but to politics in the convention." He noted that recent baptism statistics were down in each church involved in the state convention conflict.<ref name=bpnews/>  

In 1997,  Alley participated in a committee of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, based in Alexandria, to select a consensus choice as president of the body. The convention settled on Bob Anderson, the pastor emeritus of Parkview Baptist Church in [[Baton Rouge]], who came to heal political wounds that had divided the Baptists for a number of years into politically [[conservative]] and  "moderate" wings. Alley said that he believed the Baptists were "slowly but surely dissipating our strength and not giving our best energies to winning the lost in Louisiana but to politics in the convention." He noted that recent baptism statistics were down in each church involved in the state convention conflict.<ref name=bpnews/>