Cover photo for Dennis John Alexander's Obituary
Dennis John Alexander Profile Photo

Dennis John Alexander

January 10, 1962 — July 26, 2021

Dennis John “The Byron Dawg” Alexander, 59, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 26, 2021. Also known as McDennis, you could call him anything you wanted to as long as you didn’t call him late for supper. He was known for his prowess in the kitchen and his award-winning chili. If you heard, “come taste this,” your taste buds were about to be met with a unique flavor that could only be concocted by Chef Dennis, the king of the kitchen. A lifelong foodie, Dennis enjoyed Kroger’s Woo Hoo deals and Freshway’s weekly ad. If he found out you were going to the coast, he sent you with a cooler to bring back fresh seafood for him.

Dennis was born in 1962 in Fort Dix, New Jersey, the last of seven children, to Navy Veterans, Commander Thomas and Mrs. Eva Alexander. Dennis and his family soon moved to Georgia where they lived until his father’s job relocated them to Dover, Delaware. The Alexander family moved back to Dennis’s hometown of Marietta, Georgia shortly after he graduated from Dover High School in 1980. He could often be found on a barstool at McDougall’s beside his father, brothers, and best friends. In 1983, Dennis joined the Air National Guard and worked at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Weapons Loading and AGE.

Dennis met his wife, Suzanne, at the Ramada Inn lounge. He asked for her hand to dance and later for her hand in marriage. Suzanne and Dennis made a life together with their dog in a cute house on Clay Drive in Marietta before Suzanne gave birth to the most precious of UGA fans, Carlee Anna. Shortly after the death of Dennis's beloved mother, his son, Thomas John, was born. In 1996, Dennis began a new chapter at Robins Air Force Base in Munitions, because IYAAYAS (if you know, you know). The family followed Dennis to the town made famous by the big peach on Interstate 75: Byron, Georgia. He made friends with all of his neighbors, and quickly showed the town that he was “The Byron Dawg” and that he was there to stay.

Dennis proudly served his country for almost 30 years in the 116th Bomb Wing and 116th Air Control Wing. During his service in the National Guard and as a civilian employee of the Air Force, he spent time at numerous bases in the United States, Qatar, and Japan. Dennis rose through the ranks from bomb loader to sheet metal mechanic and worked on F-4s, F-15s, B-1s, and JSTARS aircraft before he retired at the ripe old age of 49. For several years, he was a stay-at-home dog Dad to his beloved pack. Much to the dismay of his spoiled canines, Dennis eventually began a new career with Northrop Grumman. There, he quickly appointed himself the unofficial DJ when he played his favorite classic rock music for his coworkers. Dennis was known as the jack of all trades and helper extraordinaire as he was always quick to lend a hand and advice.

Dennis loved the outdoors. He loved to hunt, fish, camp, build fires, load potato guns, shoot off fireworks, and yell "wazzzuppp." He lived life wide open and was truly the life of any party. He laughed often and very loudly. Dennis was quick to crack a joke or pull a prank just to make people smile.

He was predeceased by his father, Commander Thomas D. Alexander, Sr., his mother, Eva Nell Hall Alexander, his oldest brother, Thomas Alexander, Jr., and his youngest sister, Janet Alexander. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne, his daughter, Carlee, his son, Thomas (fiancé, Nina Kraii; daughter, Aaliyah and son, Cole); brothers, Michael Alexander and Steven Alexander (Gretchen); sisters, Joyce Reed (Bruce) and Gail McLarty (Don); 10 nieces and nephews; 19 great-nieces and nephews; 2 great-great nephews; and a great-great niece. His memory will forever be cherished by his extensive family, lifelong friends, and vast network of coworkers and brothers and sisters in arms.

A Memorial Service honoring the life and legacy of Dennis will be held at McCullough Funeral Home on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at 4:00 p.m., with family receiving friends beginning at 3:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life will follow with location and details forthcoming.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Freedom Service Dogs of America, (FreedomServiceDogs.org).

Learn about the measures McCullough Funeral Home is taking to ensure the health and safety of our guests at mcculloughfh.com. There you can also sign an Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dennis John Alexander, please visit our flower store.

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Saturday, August 14, 2021

3:00 - 4:00 pm (Eastern time)

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Memorial Service

Saturday, August 14, 2021

Starts at 4:00 pm (Eastern time)

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