Mary Alise Vandergriff arrived on earth prematurely in the early hours of July 11, 1951, weighing just 3 lbs and 8 ounces; she just couldn't wait to get here. The youngest of four children born to Mabel and I.A. (Vandy) Vandergriff, Alise was born in Columbia, TN and moved with her family to Atlanta, GA in 1952. She grew up in Cascade Baptist Church, and attended Cascade Elementary School, and Southwest High School. Another family move brought them to Birmingham, AL when she was in the 11th grade and she graduated from Berry High School in 1969. After studying interior design at Jeff State, she took off a few years to work as a nanny and then began a career in decorating, first at Rich's Department Store and later at Vandergriff Furniture. Alise always enjoyed helping people and went back to school to become a nurse. After 10 years at Brookwood Hospital, she became an oncology nurse at Kirklin Clinic where she worked until diagnosed with cancer herself in February 2015. A faithful christian, she attended several churches in the Birmingham area and was a member of Shades Mountain Baptist when she died prematurely on April 14, 2015. Predeceased by her father, I A Vandergriff, an infant brother, David Leigh, and her brother-in-law, Millard Darden, she is survived by her mother, Mabel J. Vandergriff; brother, Buford (Martha) Vandergriff (Covington, GA); sisters, Phyllis Darden (McDonough, GA) and Barbara Vandergriff; step-children Michelle, Michael, Robert, Raymond, Mary, Mark, Sara, John, and Hannah Smith. She is also survived by nephews David (Laura) Darden, Richard (Laura) Darden, Bill (Paige) Vandergriff, Michael (Alicia) Darden; niece Pam (Jeff) Pajerski; and their children: Kelsea (Lathan), Grant (Madanna), Jackson, Kourtney, Kailey, Payton, Sydney, Harlan, Lyndsey, Megan, Rowen, Briana, Olivia, AJ, Kenna, Bronwyn, Flynn, Imogen, greats: Ryleigh, Derek, and Brianna; along with a host of cousins and like-family friends and neighbors. A service of worship and a celebration of her life will be held at 12:00noon on Saturday April 18, 2015 at Southern Heritage Chapel, 475 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham, AL, with visitation folllowing the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials maybe made to Shades Mountain Baptist Church "Make Jesus Known" missions fund, 2017 Columbiana Rd, Vestavia, AL, 35216.