TUSCALOOSA | Elois Zeanah of Tuscaloosa died January 23, 2015 at home surrounded by her loving family. Burial will be at Gordo City Cemetery Tuesday, January 27 at 10 AM, followed by a memorial service at Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel at 2 PM conducted by Rev. Gil McKee. The family will receive friends and visitors at the Chapel immediately after the service.
She is survived by her husband James, her son Derek Zeanah (Michelle) of Statesboro, GA, her daughter Kristen Zaleski (Jonathan) of Hermosa Beach, CA, and her beloved granddaughter Sagan Zaleski also of Hermosa Beach.
Her parents were Aaron Scott and Martha Sue Kennedy, who predeceased her. She is also survived by brothers and sisters David Kennedy of Gordo, Emily Lloyd of Clearwater, FL, Sandra Hart of Mount Olive, AL; Miriam del Gado of Columbus, MS; Jacqueline Fortenberry of LaVergne, TN; and Carl Kennedy of Nashville, TN.
Born Eleanor Elois Kennedy in Fayette, AL on October 25, 1941, Elois grew up in Tupelo and Shannon, MS and graduated in 1959 from Shannon High School. Unable to attend college at that time, she immediately began her career in the personnel department at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. This career was cut short, however, in 1961 when her father suffered a catastrophic accident that left him a paraplegic. She returned home to help her family recover and in 1962 moved with them to Gordo when her family bought a business there. Later that year she met Jim, the love of her life, two weeks before he returned to college in Massachusetts. The following summer they were married.
She moved to Cambridge, MA while her husband finished college and worked for the Auditor General Office at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford and soon for the Deputy Director of the NASA Electronic Research Center in Cambridge. In 1968 she and Jim moved to Atlanta, where he attended graduate school and she Georgia State University. In 1971 she moved with newborn son Derek back to Washington, D.C. while her husband served his military tour there. In 1973 she resumed her civil service career, working in the executive office of the Commerce Department, then as administrative assistant to the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Consumer Affairs, and finally as administrative assistant to the Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
In 1977 her husband accepted a position in Los Angeles, and they moved to Thousand Oaks, CA where they lived for the next 26 years. Soon her daughter Kristen was born, and she spent a decade being a mom and school volunteer.
In the late 1980's she and a number of her friends became increasingly concerned with problems that came with the rapid growth of their semi-rural city. She became a spokesperson for quality of life issues before an entrenched and unresponsive City Council. Although her Washington experiences left her with a cynical distaste for politics, she decided change would not come without political change, and began a very successful multi-year campaign to recruit and help talented young leaders, usually women, to win political office in Thousand Oaks and Ventura County. In 1990, she was elected to the Thousand Oaks City Council and in successive elections she recruited candidates and led campaigns that created a new majority on the City Council. She served eight years as Councilwoman and one term as Mayor.
In 1998 she retired, as did her husband. They travelled and reconnected with old friends. In 2003 with children out of college and married, they satisfied a long-delayed desire to return to Alabama. Elois was delighted with the move to Tuscaloosa and made many treasured friends. Holding true to her nature, she also pitched in. She became involved in several civic and political activities and was an active member at First Presbyterian Church.
She was a graduate of Leadership Tuscaloosa, a Board Member of Girl Scouts and FOCUS on Senior Citizens, member and President of the Modern Culture Club, member and President of Republican Women of Tuscaloosa County, member of the County and State Republican Executive Committees, and for four years was President of the Alabama Federation of Republican Women and member of the Steering Committee of the Alabama Republican Party. In these latter roles, she eagerly travelled all over Alabama, shined light on political issues, advocated for legislation, encouraged many women to greater public leadership, and made many new friends.
Elois was a lady of grace, courage, optimism, and leadership. She believed deeply in God, family, and a better country.
Published in Tuscaloosa News Jan. 26, 2015
She is survived by her husband James, her son Derek Zeanah (Michelle) of Statesboro, GA, her daughter Kristen Zaleski (Jonathan) of Hermosa Beach, CA, and her beloved granddaughter Sagan Zaleski also of Hermosa Beach.
Her parents were Aaron Scott and Martha Sue Kennedy, who predeceased her. She is also survived by brothers and sisters David Kennedy of Gordo, Emily Lloyd of Clearwater, FL, Sandra Hart of Mount Olive, AL; Miriam del Gado of Columbus, MS; Jacqueline Fortenberry of LaVergne, TN; and Carl Kennedy of Nashville, TN.
Born Eleanor Elois Kennedy in Fayette, AL on October 25, 1941, Elois grew up in Tupelo and Shannon, MS and graduated in 1959 from Shannon High School. Unable to attend college at that time, she immediately began her career in the personnel department at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. This career was cut short, however, in 1961 when her father suffered a catastrophic accident that left him a paraplegic. She returned home to help her family recover and in 1962 moved with them to Gordo when her family bought a business there. Later that year she met Jim, the love of her life, two weeks before he returned to college in Massachusetts. The following summer they were married.
She moved to Cambridge, MA while her husband finished college and worked for the Auditor General Office at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford and soon for the Deputy Director of the NASA Electronic Research Center in Cambridge. In 1968 she and Jim moved to Atlanta, where he attended graduate school and she Georgia State University. In 1971 she moved with newborn son Derek back to Washington, D.C. while her husband served his military tour there. In 1973 she resumed her civil service career, working in the executive office of the Commerce Department, then as administrative assistant to the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Consumer Affairs, and finally as administrative assistant to the Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
In 1977 her husband accepted a position in Los Angeles, and they moved to Thousand Oaks, CA where they lived for the next 26 years. Soon her daughter Kristen was born, and she spent a decade being a mom and school volunteer.
In the late 1980's she and a number of her friends became increasingly concerned with problems that came with the rapid growth of their semi-rural city. She became a spokesperson for quality of life issues before an entrenched and unresponsive City Council. Although her Washington experiences left her with a cynical distaste for politics, she decided change would not come without political change, and began a very successful multi-year campaign to recruit and help talented young leaders, usually women, to win political office in Thousand Oaks and Ventura County. In 1990, she was elected to the Thousand Oaks City Council and in successive elections she recruited candidates and led campaigns that created a new majority on the City Council. She served eight years as Councilwoman and one term as Mayor.
In 1998 she retired, as did her husband. They travelled and reconnected with old friends. In 2003 with children out of college and married, they satisfied a long-delayed desire to return to Alabama. Elois was delighted with the move to Tuscaloosa and made many treasured friends. Holding true to her nature, she also pitched in. She became involved in several civic and political activities and was an active member at First Presbyterian Church.
She was a graduate of Leadership Tuscaloosa, a Board Member of Girl Scouts and FOCUS on Senior Citizens, member and President of the Modern Culture Club, member and President of Republican Women of Tuscaloosa County, member of the County and State Republican Executive Committees, and for four years was President of the Alabama Federation of Republican Women and member of the Steering Committee of the Alabama Republican Party. In these latter roles, she eagerly travelled all over Alabama, shined light on political issues, advocated for legislation, encouraged many women to greater public leadership, and made many new friends.
Elois was a lady of grace, courage, optimism, and leadership. She believed deeply in God, family, and a better country.
Published in Tuscaloosa News Jan. 26, 2015
TUSCALOOSA | Elois Zeanah of Tuscaloosa died January 23, 2015 at home surrounded by her loving family. Burial will be at Gordo City Cemetery Tuesday, January 27 at 10 AM, followed by a memorial service at Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel at 2 PM conducted by Rev. Gil McKee. The family will receive friends and visitors at the Chapel immediately after the service.
She is survived by her husband James, her son Derek Zeanah (Michelle) of Statesboro, GA, her daughter Kristen Zaleski (Jonathan) of Hermosa Beach, CA, and her beloved granddaughter Sagan Zaleski also of Hermosa Beach.
Her parents were Aaron Scott and Martha Sue Kennedy, who predeceased her. She is also survived by brothers and sisters David Kennedy of Gordo, Emily Lloyd of Clearwater, FL, Sandra Hart of Mount Olive, AL; Miriam del Gado of Columbus, MS; Jacqueline Fortenberry of LaVergne, TN; and Carl Kennedy of Nashville, TN.
Born Eleanor Elois Kennedy in Fayette, AL on October 25, 1941, Elois grew up in Tupelo and Shannon, MS and graduated in 1959 from Shannon High School. Unable to attend college at that time, she immediately began her career in the personnel department at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. This career was cut short, however, in 1961 when her father suffered a catastrophic accident that left him a paraplegic. She returned home to help her family recover and in 1962 moved with them to Gordo when her family bought a business there. Later that year she met Jim, the love of her life, two weeks before he returned to college in Massachusetts. The following summer they were married.
She moved to Cambridge, MA while her husband finished college and worked for the Auditor General Office at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford and soon for the Deputy Director of the NASA Electronic Research Center in Cambridge. In 1968 she and Jim moved to Atlanta, where he attended graduate school and she Georgia State University. In 1971 she moved with newborn son Derek back to Washington, D.C. while her husband served his military tour there. In 1973 she resumed her civil service career, working in the executive office of the Commerce Department, then as administrative assistant to the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Consumer Affairs, and finally as administrative assistant to the Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
In 1977 her husband accepted a position in Los Angeles, and they moved to Thousand Oaks, CA where they lived for the next 26 years. Soon her daughter Kristen was born, and she spent a decade being a mom and school volunteer.
In the late 1980's she and a number of her friends became increasingly concerned with problems that came with the rapid growth of their semi-rural city. She became a spokesperson for quality of life issues before an entrenched and unresponsive City Council. Although her Washington experiences left her with a cynical distaste for politics, she decided change would not come without political change, and began a very successful multi-year campaign to recruit and help talented young leaders, usually women, to win political office in Thousand Oaks and Ventura County. In 1990, she was elected to the Thousand Oaks City Council and in successive elections she recruited candidates and led campaigns that created a new majority on the City Council. She served eight years as Councilwoman and one term as Mayor.
In 1998 she retired, as did her husband. They travelled and reconnected with old friends. In 2003 with children out of college and married, they satisfied a long-delayed desire to return to Alabama. Elois was delighted with the move to Tuscaloosa and made many treasured friends. Holding true to her nature, she also pitched in. She became involved in several civic and political activities and was an active member at First Presbyterian Church.
She was a graduate of Leadership Tuscaloosa, a Board Member of Girl Scouts and FOCUS on Senior Citizens, member and President of the Modern Culture Club, member and President of Republican Women of Tuscaloosa County, member of the County and State Republican Executive Committees, and for four years was President of the Alabama Federation of Republican Women and member of the Steering Committee of the Alabama Republican Party. In these latter roles, she eagerly travelled all over Alabama, shined light on political issues, advocated for legislation, encouraged many women to greater public leadership, and made many new friends.
Elois was a lady of grace, courage, optimism, and leadership. She believed deeply in God, family, and a better country.
Published in Tuscaloosa News Jan. 26, 2015
She is survived by her husband James, her son Derek Zeanah (Michelle) of Statesboro, GA, her daughter Kristen Zaleski (Jonathan) of Hermosa Beach, CA, and her beloved granddaughter Sagan Zaleski also of Hermosa Beach.
Her parents were Aaron Scott and Martha Sue Kennedy, who predeceased her. She is also survived by brothers and sisters David Kennedy of Gordo, Emily Lloyd of Clearwater, FL, Sandra Hart of Mount Olive, AL; Miriam del Gado of Columbus, MS; Jacqueline Fortenberry of LaVergne, TN; and Carl Kennedy of Nashville, TN.
Born Eleanor Elois Kennedy in Fayette, AL on October 25, 1941, Elois grew up in Tupelo and Shannon, MS and graduated in 1959 from Shannon High School. Unable to attend college at that time, she immediately began her career in the personnel department at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. This career was cut short, however, in 1961 when her father suffered a catastrophic accident that left him a paraplegic. She returned home to help her family recover and in 1962 moved with them to Gordo when her family bought a business there. Later that year she met Jim, the love of her life, two weeks before he returned to college in Massachusetts. The following summer they were married.
She moved to Cambridge, MA while her husband finished college and worked for the Auditor General Office at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford and soon for the Deputy Director of the NASA Electronic Research Center in Cambridge. In 1968 she and Jim moved to Atlanta, where he attended graduate school and she Georgia State University. In 1971 she moved with newborn son Derek back to Washington, D.C. while her husband served his military tour there. In 1973 she resumed her civil service career, working in the executive office of the Commerce Department, then as administrative assistant to the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Consumer Affairs, and finally as administrative assistant to the Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
In 1977 her husband accepted a position in Los Angeles, and they moved to Thousand Oaks, CA where they lived for the next 26 years. Soon her daughter Kristen was born, and she spent a decade being a mom and school volunteer.
In the late 1980's she and a number of her friends became increasingly concerned with problems that came with the rapid growth of their semi-rural city. She became a spokesperson for quality of life issues before an entrenched and unresponsive City Council. Although her Washington experiences left her with a cynical distaste for politics, she decided change would not come without political change, and began a very successful multi-year campaign to recruit and help talented young leaders, usually women, to win political office in Thousand Oaks and Ventura County. In 1990, she was elected to the Thousand Oaks City Council and in successive elections she recruited candidates and led campaigns that created a new majority on the City Council. She served eight years as Councilwoman and one term as Mayor.
In 1998 she retired, as did her husband. They travelled and reconnected with old friends. In 2003 with children out of college and married, they satisfied a long-delayed desire to return to Alabama. Elois was delighted with the move to Tuscaloosa and made many treasured friends. Holding true to her nature, she also pitched in. She became involved in several civic and political activities and was an active member at First Presbyterian Church.
She was a graduate of Leadership Tuscaloosa, a Board Member of Girl Scouts and FOCUS on Senior Citizens, member and President of the Modern Culture Club, member and President of Republican Women of Tuscaloosa County, member of the County and State Republican Executive Committees, and for four years was President of the Alabama Federation of Republican Women and member of the Steering Committee of the Alabama Republican Party. In these latter roles, she eagerly travelled all over Alabama, shined light on political issues, advocated for legislation, encouraged many women to greater public leadership, and made many new friends.
Elois was a lady of grace, courage, optimism, and leadership. She believed deeply in God, family, and a better country.
Published in Tuscaloosa News Jan. 26, 2015
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