Alphine Glenn was the third child born to Joseph and Pecolia Glenn (arriving prematurely and weighing only 3 pounds) on November 9, 1932 in Cleveland, OH. Both parents were adopted as children.

Alphine graduated as salutatorian of Central Senior High School in 1952. She was then awarded a scholarship to Bowling Green State University, becoming the first person in her family to go to college. When her mother died her freshman year, she took a year off to help her father with her 11 siblings. Alphine sang in Bowling Green’s college choir which traveled throughout Ohio and neighboring states to sing at various churches. As the only black member, she was not allowed to travel to Florida or any of the southern states due to segregation. Alphine proudly received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education in January 1958. She returned to Cleveland first teaching at O.W. Holmes and then Wade Park Elementary. During this time Alphine helped to establish the Cleveland Head Start Program.  In 1965 Alphine received an additional master’s degree in special education and school psychology from Bowling Green.

Alphine was also a member of the Blossom Festival Choir and the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. She sang backup for renowned singers like Beverly Sills who performed with the Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall.

At the age of 39, Alphine adopted three-month-old Stephanie Dianne. Melanie Joanne was adopted one year later at the age of six months. Alphine was the first single woman to adopt a child in Cuyahoga County. After teaching for 10 years in the East Cleveland School system, Alphine relocated to Arizona. There she taught special education at Cordova Elementary. In Arizona, Alphine, Stephanie, and Melanie became members of Trinity Mennonite Church because of its location, but more so because of its great choir. Trinity remained her church family for almost 40 years.

After retiring from teaching in 1992, Alphine spent most of her days at Phoenix College taking voice classes, singing with the Phoenix College McConnell singers. Between 1996 and 2001 she had the opportunity to tour the British Isles and sing at the S.S. Arizona Memorial. Alphine was also a member of a touring a capella choir, continuing to excel in vocal contests. The choir performed Brahms’ Requiem at Carnegie Hall in New York. She also sang in the Messiah Choir at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix. Alphine sang Handel’s Messiah nearly every year from 1952 until 2018.

Alphine spent five years at Woodside Village assisted living where she continued her love for the Red Hat Ladies, worked in the resident store, led sing alongs, read to the blind, organized and taught weekly card games, became a part of the welcoming committee, and sang to the residents in the Alzheimer’s unit. During this time, she became an active member of South Haven United Church of Christ. In 2019, Alphine made the selfless decision to stay at Northfield Village after being admitted there for therapy. Alphine still led sing-a-longs, organized card games, helped the activities department, and assisted Pastor Rachel McDonald with monthly Sunday services until Covid slowed her down in 2021. Even mostly bedridden, Alphine made an impact on everyone she met.

Although she suffered losses of family and friends, her strong faith and belief in God guided her musical life.

Alphine was preceded in death by her father, Joseph Glenn, her mother, Pecolia Glenn, her daughter Melanie, her sisters Josephine, Alberta, and Alicia, and her brothers Eugene, Albert, Randy, Richard, Reginald, Morris, and Lloyd. Alphine is survived by daughter Stephanie; brothers Johnathan, Ralph, and Joseph; grandchildren Jahmaal, Jerrod, and Amaya; great grandchild Elijah; and a host of nieces and nephews.