Lexie Beggs McCleskey was born March 28, 1922, in Selmer, Tennessee to John Robert Beggs and Dora Horton Beggs. Her family moved to Sheffield, Alabama when she was four years old. Her father was infatuated with Wilson Dam. At the age of 11, her family moved to Tuscumbia where she attended Deshler High School. In 1939, at the age of 17, she became Miss Tuscumbia and went on to graduate Deshler High School in 1939. She attended the University of Alabama where she joined many clubs and organizations. That is where she met and fell in love with her husband, F. J. McCleskey, better known as “Slugger” from his baseball days. He served our country in World War II as a navigation officer on transport ships. They traveled to Italy on their twenty fifth anniversary and visited the northern parts of France. “Slugger” left her at the age of 59. He died in a terrible train accident. After his death, Lexie traveled to many parts of the world including England, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, and New Zealand.
Lexie was a great woman with a kind heart. She was loved by many and gave her love in many different ways. She had a great life and lived at home until her death. She died peacefully in her beloved home with her grandson, Anthony Vinson, at her side. She will forever be missed.
She was preceded in death by her husband, F. J. McCleskey, and parents, John and Dora Beggs.
