Alvin Joel Saffold

Alvin Joel Saffold, a man who lived his life with the kind of humor and love that could light up the darkest room, passed away on August 8, 2024, in his hometown of Dothan, Alabama. Born on January 17, 1958, to the late Willie Nell Palmore and Joel Hayes, Alvin was the spirited middle child among five siblings, a position he claimed gave him a "Ph.D. in practical jokes."

Alvin was a proud Trojan, having graduated from Dothan High School in 1977. His thirst for knowledge and his love for working with his hands led him to Wallace Community College, where he mastered the art of Automatic Body and Repair. This skill set laid the groundwork for his lifelong passion for detailing vehicles—no car left his shop without a shine that you could see your soul in.

But Alvin’s true legacy lies in the laughter he left behind. He was the embodiment of the saying, "You can't stay mad at someone who makes you laugh." In the words of the great comedian Jimmy Durante, "Be nice to people on your way up because you meet them on your way down." Alvin lived by this mantra, except he made sure everyone was in stitches, both on the way up and on the way down.

To know Alvin was to know that he was blunt with his words—a trait that often led to moments of unexpected comedy. His animated storytelling made him the life of the party at family functions, where his presence was like a spotlight that naturally gravitated toward him. He was loving and funny, and if laughter is the best medicine, he was our ever-present doctor on call.

Alvin had a knack for barbecuing, not just in the culinary sense, but also in the way he roasted life with his wit. He would often say, “I’m not arguing, I’m just explaining why I’m right,” and somehow, he usually was - at least in the court of public opinion that gathered around his grill.

He is survived by an ensemble cast of characters he adored: his daughters: Zenetra Johnson, and Latrice Freeman; his four grandchildren who were his most captive audience; one great-grandchild who had just begun to appreciate his granddad’s comedic timing; his brothers: Ronnie (Mary, deceased) Saffold, and Don Saffold, who were often the butt of his jokes; and his sisters: Diane Saffold, and Arwilda (Willie) Smoke, who could always be counted on to laugh the loudest at his antics. Alvin also leaves behind a troupe of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends who each hold a treasury of ‘Alvin stories’ that are guaranteed to bring a smile.

We will miss Alvin's laughter, his irrepressible spirit, and his ability to turn the mundane into the hilarious. His was a life well-lived and well-laughed. As we say our goodbyes, we can almost hear him chuckling, urging us to keep the party going in his absence. So, as we remember Alvin Joel Saffold, let's honor his memory by living as he did—with a joke on our lips and love in our hearts.

Alvin, you may have left the stage, but your punchlines will echo in our memories forever. Rest in peace, dear jester. Your final curtain call may have come, but your encore will continue in the stories we share and the smiles you've left behind.

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