John Smith Alexander, 69, of Harrodsburg, KY, died Tuesday, February 25 of a short illness. He was beginning his 52nd year as a horse show photographer, having photographed American Saddlebreds, Tennessee Walking Horses, hackneys and road horses throughout the region, and Standard bred horses on the race track. He was a former writer and editor for the Lexington Herald-Leader.

A native of Harrodsburg, Alexander was a son of Gladys Davenport Alexander and the late James M. Alexander. He also is survived by his wife, Sue; a daughter, Rebecca Sweet (Dale); a son, John Napier (Christina), all of Lexington; two brothers, Andrew Alexander and Dr. James G. Alexander, both of Harrodsburg; three grandchildren, Dillon Sweet and Bethany and Jack Napier, all of Lexington; three nieces, one nephew, two grand nieces and one grand-nephew.

He was a member of the Mercer County Fair Board, a vice president of the Kentucky Walking Horse Association, a board member and past president of the Ohio Valley Walking Horse Association and a member of the Lexington Lions Club. He was a Mason and a Shriner.

For 45 years, he served as pastor of Camp Nelson Presbyterian Church in Nicholasville. Earlier he also was associated with the Sweet 16 Boys High School Basketball Tournament and helped to start the All-A State High School Basketball Tournament.

He was a graduate of Harrodsburg High School and the University of Kentucky and did graduate work at the Lexington Theological Seminary.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday at the Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, Harrodsburg Road, in Lexington, Ky. Graveside services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday at the Spring Hill Cemetery in Harrodsburg. Visitation will be from 4-8:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, Harrodsburg Road. Contributions may be sent to the Lexington Lions Club Fund for Sight, PMB 131, 4101 Tates Creek Centre Drive, Suite 150, Lexington, Ky 40517 or Central Kentucky Riding for the Handicapped, P.O. Box 13155, Lexington, Ky 40511