Alice Jones Clem, 101, of Salem, VA, was born May 30, 1924, to Weldon and Beatrice Jones in Norfolk, VA. Expected to help care for her younger siblings, Alice quickly learned how to get things done. Raised in Norfolk, she caught the twinkling eye of a certain sailor, William B. Clem Jr., her husband of 53 years. They were married in 1945 in Florida, the day before he was redeployed with the Navy during WWII. Following the war, they found true community in Salem, where they joined First United Methodist Church and raised their children, Sandy and Billy.

Even in the leanest years, Alice lived a life of abundance, making the most of what she had. An accomplished seamstress, flour sacks became children's dresses and scraps of calico were stitched into beautiful quilts. She could rewire a lamp, whip up chicken and dumplings, win a bridge hand, tell a good story, and balance a checkbook with the best of them.

Alice embodied the finest qualities: pragmatic, tenacious, endlessly patient, persistently optimistic, sharp-witted, hardworking, and selflessly loving in a way that demanded little attention. Most of all, she was wholeheartedly supportive of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

In retirement, she and Bill realized their lifelong dream of building a home on Smith Mountain Lake. There they counted their wealth by the bounty of pole beans in the garden and the number of stars in the sky. Granny, as she was affectionately known, taught her grandchildren how to iron, make peanut butter cookies, play cards, sew a button, and roast a turkey. Whether visiting grandsons in Colorado or catching grasshoppers, the activity was far less important than togetherness. More than anything, there was never a question of her deep, abiding, unconditional love.

Until her final years Alice lived independently, remarkably exceeding the limits of cultural expectations. However, she began referring to herself in the third person, as in, "This ole' Granny can climb into the attic just fine." By God's grace, she came to rely on the companionship of her caregiver, Cyndi Leftwich, for whom our family holds the deepest regard. As a resident of Richfield Retirement Community during her last two years, she was quick to share a genuine smile or sassy joke with her many neighbors and caregivers. It is difficult to imagine a world without Granny in it, but our grief reflects profound gratitude for her long life and the legacy of her joyful, loving spirit so generously shared with all she encountered.

Alice Jones Clem is predeceased by her parents, husband, and siblings: James W. Jones, Richard E. Jones, Robert C. Jones, Marietta J. White, and Milton Jones. She is survived by her children, Sandra Clem Archer (Bob) of Salem, VA, and William B. Clem III of Denver, CO. Grandchildren include Michelle Archer of Roanoke, VA; Lori Archer Raible (Rob) of Charlotte, NC; Jill Archer Perez (Scott) of Salem, VA; William B. Clem IV of Denver, CO; and Ian T. Clem of Gunnison, CO. Great-grandchildren include Wesley Sykes, Tyler Sykes, Robert "Joe" Raible, Blake Perez, Maeve Raible, and Drew Perez.

A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Salem, VA, on Friday, March 13, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., with a reception to follow in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to FUMC Memorials, 125 W. Main St., Salem, VA 24153 or Mrs. Dorsey's Clothes Closet, www.mdclothescloset.org.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com.