Dr. James Alison

Dr. James Fairly Alison Jr., 89, died March 25, 2017. Born October 3, 1927 in Delray Beach, Florida, son of Dr. James Fairly Alison and Olivia Evans Alison, he grew up in Selma, Alabama, and graduated from A.G. Parrish High School. He attended the University of Alabama, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order. In 1950, he graduated from Tulane Medical School. After internships at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia and Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, he served in the US Air Force in Alaska. Following his pediatric residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, he became a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1957.

For 31 years, Dr. Alison practiced pediatrics in Selma, and then spent several years with the Dallas County Health Department.  He was instrumental in establishing the Head Start program in Dallas County, and served as a member of the Selma City School Board during the period of school integration in the 1970s. An avid outdoorsman, he was a member of the Alabama Wildlife Federation. He loved to hunt, fish, read, and travel.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Celia Shuptrine Alison; his children, Olivia Evans Alison, Celia Fontaine Alison, and James Fairly Alison III (Susan), all of Birmingham; his grandchildren, James Parker Alison and Anne Fairly Alison; his brother, William Evans Alison (Cecelia) of Huntsville, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Selma. Visitation at 10; service at 11. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Alabama Wildlife Federation,  awf@alabamawildlife.org; Children's Hospital of Alabama,  foundation.childrensal.org; or The Selma-Dallas County Public Library, selmalibrary.org.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to: Alabama Wildlife Federation 3050 Lanmark Rd. Millbrook, AL 36054, Childrens Hospital of Alabama 1600 7th Ave South  Birmingham, AL 35233, or Selma Public Library 1103 Selma Ave Selma, AL 36703,