Hilda Barbara (Bennett) Alexander (1881 - 1964)

Born 20 Aug 1881 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Wife of Connell William O'Donel Long Alexander — married 22 Jul 1907 in Hook Church, Hants

Died May 1964 at age 82 in Solihull, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Hilda Barbara Bennett was born 20 August 1881 and educated at CampHill Grammar School, Birmingham. Their aunt Alice helped pay for their education and left money to them. She married on 22 July 1907, at Hook Parish Church by Rev.Charles Lloyd, to Conel William Long Alexander. They settled in Cork where she played hockey for Munster Province. After her husband's death in 1920, she went to live with her sister Eva in New York taking with her Mary and Debora. She stayed two years then returned to Birmingham where she lived at 22 Turville Road, Handsworth until about 1942 when she moved to 638 Streetsbrook Road, Solihull. Here she was joined by her sister, Alice, and later by her other sister, Edith, who returned from Sydney, Australia where she had been for some 40 years. Hilda and Alice and her manservant George Smallwood and Deborah, stayed with Edith’s family at Teaneck, New Jersey post was for a while, then to Canada. Hilda's chief interest was the Presbyterian Church. Although she started life as an Anglican, she became a Presbyterian after her marriage. She was a church elder in St.George’s Handsworth and in Solihull was responsible for the foundation of St.Ninian's Presbyterian Church and was its session clerk for many years. [notes from daughter] For some time services were held at her home, until transferred to the Manor House in 1950. She was a person of great courage, faith and integrity, yet simple and humble. Wise, charming and kind, she was beloved of all those who knew her. [obituary] Hilda died on 24 May 1964, aged 83, at 638 Streetsbrook Road Solihull, near Birmingham. In her will dated 1959, and proved in 1964, she left everything to her four children and sisters Edith and Eva

Research Notes

Note: In the 1901 Census she is listed as an English teacher at the High School for Girls, Millard Wilkin, New Sarum, Wiltshire

Sources

• obituary. notes from daughter Debora Baumanis of Stirling