Mary Alice Smith Cleveland

Mary Alice Smith Cleveland, 88, of Dothan, Alabama, died peacefully in her sleep on September 4, 2021. She was born on June 17, 1933, in Eutaw, Alabama to the late Mary Hawthorne Edwards Smith and Guy Wilburn Smith. She was a graduate of Eutaw High School and later earned her Bachelor of Nursing from The University of Alabama.

Upon completion of her studies in Birmingham, she worked as a Labor and Delivery nurse where she met and later married the late Doctor Richard “Doss” Cleveland, Senior. Together they moved to Shreveport, Louisiana for his medical residency in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. While in Louisiana, Mary Alice began her journey of becoming a masterful entertainer and respected chef as she explored her hand at recreating the creole cuisine. During that time, they also welcomed their two oldest sons, Richard “Doss” Cleveland, Junior and Robert “Bob” Smith Cleveland.

In 1963, Mary Alice and Doss relocated to Dothan, Alabama which ultimately became their final home. They welcomed their third son, Kenneth “Ken” Edwards Cleveland while Doss became established in private practice at Flowers Hospital. Beyond raising their sons, Mary Alice dedicated much of her time to her neighborhood friends, who truly became her extended family and continued to fine tune her culinary skills. The neighborhood children were often present at their home during mealtime as they could count on having a seat at the Cleveland table.

In 1975, she became a founding partner of Garland House, which quickly became a Dothan lunchtime favorite. Many of Mary Alice’s recipes throughout the years were featured in numerous local magazines as well as more widely read publications such as Southern Living and Good Housekeeping. In 1982, she opened her second restaurant, appropriately called Cleveland’s, and expanded her catering business. It was through this venue that she was determined to bring fine dining to Dothan. Her sons often joked that they never knew when they would be working as the dishwasher or bus boy, but all developed a deep respect for the hard work of the restaurant industry.

Mary Alice later returned to the bedside at Flowers Hospital and spent her final years nursing until her retirement in 2008. On numerous occasions, she received accolades for her faithfulness and dedication to the art of caregiving. Twice she was recognized by her peers at Flowers Hospital as their Nurse of the Year. In 2004, she received a more prestigious honor when she was designated as one of Dothan’s Health Care Heroes. Her contemporaries described her as a “person of courage, dedication and great compassion” while her patients benefited from her attention to detail with a servant’s heart. For Mary Alice, the ability to finish her career as a nurse at Flowers Hospital simply felt like she was returning home.

Finally, she remained an active and faithful member of the First United Methodist Church in Dothan, Alabama and after the death of her husband Doss, she orchestrated the development of Walton Gardens as a place of eternal interment.

Mary Alice was preceded in death by her husband Richard Doss Cleveland, Senior. She is survived by her sister Elizabeth “Betty Ann” Smith Chambers of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and her sons Doctor Richard Doss Cleveland, Junior (Florrye) of Fairhope, Alabama, Doctor Robert Smith Cleveland (Kathy) of Dothan, Alabama and Doctor Kenneth Edwards Cleveland (Nicole) of Jackson, Mississippi. Grandchildren: Doctor Mary Katherine Cleveland Saltzstein (Teddy), Florrye McKay Cleveland, Richard Doss Cleveland, III, Robert Doss Cleveland, Senior (Lauren), Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland Carroll (John Trotman), Carson Smith Cleveland (Meaghan), Elizabeth Hawthorne Cleveland, Marilee Edwards Cleveland, Kennedy Jamieson Fair Cleveland and one great grandson, Robert Doss Cleveland, Junior.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, September 12 at 1:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church with visitation to follow. In lieu of flowers, gifts should be made to In Christ Name Fund or The Harbor Church in care of The First United Methodist Church in Dothan, Al.

The family will remain grateful for Edna Bivens for her love and support over the past few years.

Robert and Toni Byrd · Sunset Memorial Park

1700 Barrington Rd, Midland City AL · (334) 983-6604