‘Honey’ Alexander, wife of former Sen. Lamar Alexander, dead at 77

MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Leslee “Honey” Buhler Alexander, the wife of former Tennessee governor and U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, died Saturday at age 77.

Alexander died Saturday at her home outside of the Tennessee city of Maryville, her family said in a statement obtained by WSMV.

Leslee "Honey" Buhler Alexander, 77, died Sunday morning, her family confirmed. https://t.co/ZhWtU0HpYG
— Tennessean (@Tennessean) October 30, 2022

According to The Associated Press, she was married for 53 years to Lamar Alexander, a Republican who served as Tennessee’s governor from 1979 to 1987. He also served as U.S. education secretary under former President George H.W. Bush, ran for president and spent three terms in the U.S. Senate before retiring in 2020.

“Our dear ‘Honey’ was funny, loving, always caring, unselfish and courageous. We are so fortunate to have spent our lives with her. We will miss her every day,” the statement said.

Alexander was born on Oct. 12, 1945, in Los Angeles. Her family said that she was working for U.S. Sen. John Tower of Texas when she met her future husband, a staffer for U.S. Sen. Howard Baker Jr. of Tennessee, during a softball game between the two staffs in 1967.

She is survived by her husband, three children, nine grandchildren, her brothers and sisters, according to WKRN.

The family said she would be remembered at a private graveside service for family members and a memorial service held later at Christ Church Cathedral in Nashville.