Changes

==Background==

==Background==

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 parents were too poor to afford an automobile.<ref name=LCarticle>"Alumnus John Alley Recalls his LC Experience," ''Columns: The Magazine for Louisiana College Alumni & Friends,'' Summer 2020, p. 16.</ref> His father, a native of Conroe, [[Texas]], worked for thirty-eight years in the maintenance department at 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. Then he joined Calvary Baptist Church at 5011 Jackson Street in Alexandria, where his son was the senior 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> from 1971 to 1999.<ref name=LCarticle/>

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 parents were too poor to afford an automobile.<ref name=LCarticle>"Alumnus John Alley Recalls his LC Experience," ''Columns: The Magazine for Louisiana College Alumni & Friends,'' Summer 2020, p. 16.</ref> A native of Conroe, [[Texas]], Arthur Alley worked for thirty-eight years in the maintenance department at 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. Then he joined Calvary Baptist Church at 5011 Jackson Street in Alexandria, where his son was the senior 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> from 1971 to 1999.<ref name=LCarticle/>

   

   

Alley graduated 70th in a class of 76 in 1952 from Springhill High School, since North Webster High School following school consolidations. On the recommendation of his [[Sunday school] teacher, Joe Mayor, Alley enrolled at 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> Alley stayed five years at LC and in 1957 obtained a degree in Psychology and a minor in the English language. He then studied at the [[New Orleans]] Baptist Theological Seminary, from which he earned a degree in Philosophical Theology with minors in biblical languages. "All of it was a difficult time of learning. (One of his professors predicted that Alley would drop out of college.) But I am grateful to [[God]] and the kind people who helped me," Alley recalled.<ref name=LCarticle/>

Alley graduated 70th in a class of 76 in 1952 from Springhill High School, since North Webster High School following school consolidations. On the recommendation of his [[Sunday school] teacher, Joe Mayor, Alley enrolled at 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> Alley stayed five years at LC and in 1957 obtained a degree in Psychology and a minor in the English language. He then studied at the [[New Orleans]] Baptist Theological Seminary, from which he earned a degree in Philosophical Theology with minors in biblical languages. "All of it was a difficult time of learning. (One of his professors mistakenly predicted that Alley would drop out of college.) But I am grateful to [[God]] and the kind people who helped me," Alley recalled.<ref name=LCarticle/>

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=June 22, 2020}}</ref> he is the father of two daughters, Lynn A. Wheelis and Lisa A. Smith.

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=June 22, 2020}}</ref> he is the father of two daughters, Lynn A. Wheelis and Lisa A. Smith.