Alice Mountcastle Zollicoffer

Berea, KY - Alice Mountcastle Zollicoffer, a lovely, loving, and beloved person, died peacefully on the 15 day of February, 2022. Alice was born on January 4, 1946 in Henderson, North Carolina, the only daughter of John Hilliard Zollicoffer and Helen Summers Zollicoffer. Some of her fondest memories of her youth are of the friends she had growing up and in summers at Camp Merrie-Woode in the North Carolina mountains. With a brilliant mind, athletic abilities, and leadership qualities, Alice excelled in field hockey, captained the Purple Basketball team, and won the "Faculty Award" for Most Outstanding Student at Salem Academy in Winston Salem, NC. She then attended Agnes Scott College where she also played sports, was elected President of the Freshman Class and later President of the Student Body. The first year after college, Alice worked at Continental Bank & Trust Company in Philadelphia, before moving to Cambridge, Massachusetts to work in Urban Planning and Studies. Working in an academic atmosphere there encouraged her to further her education. Alice thereafter received a Masters Degree In Speech & Hearing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC; her intellect was reflected in the title to her thesis written for that degree: "The Effect of Staggered and Simultaneous Speech-in noise Signals on Auditory Discrimination Skills of Children with Learning Disabilities". After receipt of a Fellowship, she followed that with a second Masters Degree in Counselling at the University of Kentucky from which she subsequently also earned her PhD Degree in 1989. While getting the above degrees, Alice worked in the UNC library, enrolled in the Counseling Psychology Program at the University of Kentucky, and worked in the Department of Education at UK. After obtaining her degrees, Alice was a practicing Psychologist for several years. She completed her professional career as a Senior Research Associate for the HazWaste Project of the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Kentucky. In college, Alice's interest in social issues grew. She was involved in efforts to achieve a more diverse faculty and student body at Agnes Scott, and as a senior she attended the funeral of Martin Luther King. Zolly continued to support social justice issues throughout her life. Alice made her home for nearly the last 30 years in Berea, Kentucky where she found many friends and the life style and atmosphere in which she delighted. She enjoyed being a member of the "Red Coats" volunteer group. She felt more at home there than perhaps any other place in her adult life. Her lifelong love for animals led her to devote many hours to area animal welfare projects, especially the care and shelter of ill and abandoned cats. Alice adopted the family nickname "Zolly" during her years in Kentucky. She was extremely creative, especially with words. It was said that she may have missed her calling as a writer for Hallmark Cards. Unfortunately, Alice developed multiple sclerosis later in life which forced her in 2019 to need assistance which she found at Morning Pointe in Richmond, Kentucky, and later at Berea Health & Rehabilitation where she resided at the time of her death. Alice is survived by her brothers: John H. Zollicoffer Jr (and wife Martha W. Zollicoffer) of Henderson, NC and Jere P. Zollicoffer II of Winston-Salem, NC, as well as her wonderful friend, partner and trusted confidant, Nancy Ryan of Berea, Ky., and a neice and numerous nephews and their families, and also by numerous other friends. She was predeceased by her parents and a sister-in-law, Judy H. Zollicoffer. Reppert Funeral Home in Berea is handling the funeral arrangements. A grave marker will be placed for her beside her parents in Elmwood Cemetery in Henderson, NC. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions for Alice can be made either to: Kitty, Inc, 421 Christmas Ridge Road, Berea, KY 40403; or to Church of the Holy Innocents (Episcopal), 210 S. Chestnut Street, Henderson, NC 27536.