Alice (Best) Tolan

 As you celebrate my homegoing, I pray that each of you will remember that I fought so hard to remain with each of you. I have finished my earthly course of life. My sudden departure was all a part of God’s plan for me, so keep the faith. A loving God knows what’s best for each of us, so please don’t be angry with God because He took me sooner than any of you planned. I am no longer walking my brief earthy journey. My memories will forever be enshrined in the fabric of the lives of those I touched over the years. I was always full of life, so remember me as a beacon of light guiding you through the darkness that exist in this world. In my absence, remember that my spirit lives on. I am now a gentle whisper in the breeze, a ray of sunlight on a cloudy day, a reminder that love knows no boundaries.

Alice Best Tolan was born on July 2, 1951, to Willie and Estella Best in Gifford, South Carolina. Alice received her formal education at Estill Training in Estill, South Carolina. After migrating to Washington, DC, she furthered her education at various schools around the Washington, DC, area. She accepted Christ as her Savior at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church at an early age, where she served as a Sunday School delegate and teacher. She was also a liated with New Macedonia Baptist Church in Washington, DC. When she returned to the area, she attended Goodwill Baptist Church.

Alice Best was united in holy matrimony with Robert Tolan on March 31, 1972, in Washington, DC. Their union was blessed with two children: Andre' Tolan and Michael Tolan. In her leisure time, she enjoyed talking to people, reading, and all sports, especially football and tennis. She was employed by Verizon, HUD, and Bell North/ATT, and then returned to Verizon as a clerk/customer service representative for twenty- five years.

Alice Tolan departed this life on August 24, 2024. She was preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Estella Best, and siblings, Odell, John Edward, Willie James, Johnson, and Margie.

She leaves to cherish her memories: two sons, Andre' (Kristina) Tolan and Michael Tolan; sisters, Veronica Best, Lizzie M. Best, Dottie Jean (Ronnie) Jackson, Vivian (Alvin) Murdaugh, Carolyn Risher, and Jackie Lee; brothers, Dwayne Best, Henry Harold, and Kenneth Best; six grandchildren; a special friend, J. C. Jackson; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many, many friends.

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