Alice Voorheis
Alice Robertson Voorheis, age 97, of Ooltewah, TN., passed away on Saturday, January 6, 2024. She was born, Alice Genevieve Smith, in Brooklyn, N.Y. on September 11, 1926.
Alice earned a bachelor of science degree in Elementary Education from Southern Missionary College and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in the Teaching of Reading from Andrews University. She taught in several elementary schools before becoming Dean of Girls at Mount Pisgah Academy in Candler, NC, she then served as associate superintendent of Education for the Carolina Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. She retired as superintendent of Education and Director of Communication for the Gulf-States Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in 1991. Being dedicated to education, she was a life-long learner with a passion for knowledge and the value that it brings to life.
Alice was a member of the Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church. For the last 30 years she was an active volunteer with Adventist Heritage Ministries for which she served as its president for more than nine years. She traveled the United States promoting the importance of preserving the historic properties and the history of the founding and early development of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Her deep passion was for people to meet Jesus and she lived her life with a continuing desire to bring honor and glory to Him.
Alice was a loving mother who cherished her family and who’s arms and heart made room for countless young people and others over the years, freely sharing her home, her resources, and her love. Alice was a devoted Grama, Grandma, and Great-Grandma always making the extra effort to be with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren as often as possible, no matter where they were living .
In addition to her parents, Alice was preceded in death by her first husband, O.L. (Leroy) Robertson; second husband, Arl V. Voorheis; her son, Willis Robertson; three sisters, Joan Smith, Frances Ryder, and Dorothy Erland; and two brothers, William Fields and Henry Smith.
Survivors include her son, Pastor Philip Robertson (Kathie), daughter, Janita Herod (Pastor Dwight); step-daughter Sharon A. Kerr (Sam); step-son, Byron Voorheis (Melodie); daughter-in-law, Judy Robertson; six grandchildren; Kent Robertson (Wendy), Stephen Robertson, (Jess), Sebrina MacDonald (Scott), Jodi Steele (David), Courtney Herod, and Sam (Kim) Kerr; and nine great-grandchildren, Allison Cammilleri, Brandon Cammilleri, Seth Robertson, Caleb Robertson, Zach Robertson, Ryan Robertson, Emma Robertson, William Steele, and Jackson Kerr. In addition, Alice had several precious surviving nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, Jan. 14, at 11 a.m., at Heritage Funeral Home with Pastor Philip Robertson and Pastor Dwight Herod officiating. Interment will follow at Collegedale Memorial Park.
Visitation will be Saturday from 4-6 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions be made to Adventist Heritage Ministries.
The following will serve as pallbearers: Kent Robertson, Stephen Robertson, Courtney Herod, Scott MacDonald, David Steele, Brandon Cammilleri, Seth Robertson and Caleb Robertson.
Visit the online obituary www.heritagechattanooga.com to post tributes and share memories.
Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel.