Alzie Marie Frasure

Alzie Marie, affectionately referred to as Marie, was born July 8, 1945 in Hugo, Oklahoma. The family later relocated to Kansas City, Kansas. She was the fifth oldest of ten children born to Molly Florence and Guy Campbell. She was also the self-proclaimed matriarch of the family. Marie was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Frankie White, Blanchie Cunningham, Rosie White and Donna Hayes.

Marie was a resident of Kansas City, Kansas for most of her life and was educated in KCKS District #500. She attended Dunbar North Elementary School, Northeast Junior High School, and graduated from Sumner High School in 1963. After graduation, Marie earned an Associates of Liberal Arts degree from KCK Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management from Friends University and a Master's degree in Management from Baker University School of Professional & Graduate Studies. She also earned a Bachelor's degree in Travel and Tourism from Bryan Travel College and was a Graduate of Leadership 2000 throughout the Kansas City, Kansas Chamber of Commerce.

Marie married the love of her life, James C. Frasure, Jr. on June 6, 1995. They celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary in July of 2020 by renewing their vows in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Together they had a blended family of five children, fourteen grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. Marie was the President, along with her husband, of RJ Travel Advisors, a full service travel, tour and event planning agency with global certifications.

Marie was a selfless person, always looking out for others. She devoted her life to advocacy. Her life's work was dedicated to fighting for children and ending hunger. Her community outreach efforts spanned several decades, countries and continents.

She was the Founder and Executive Director of YIELD (Youth Initiatives in Education and Leadership Development). Marie was also the Founder, Architect and driving force behind Mt. Carmel's Community Outreach Programs for over 35 years. She developed, implemented and supervised new program components and facilitated mission project, locally, nationally, and internationally. Those trips included the Dominican Republic, Bahamas, London, Bristol, and Wales, Cape Town, Soweto and Johannesburg, South Africa; and Ghana, West Africa, as well as locations in the US. The missions accomplished through these trips were life changing in each area they served. Through her professional connections she was instrumental in opening doors for countless children, youth and adults to experience things they never would have otherwise.

Marie was multi-faceted and talented. There was nothing she couldn't do. She facilitated health fairs and was also responsible for securing and coordinating mass food distributions for families throughout the years. One of her proudest accomplishments was producing the musical play "Lazarus" which played on 5 different occasions in the Greater KC area and once at Gaston Theatre on Georgetown University Campus in Washington, DC.

Marie was involved in local, national and global arenas. She served on numerous boards including: Souper Bowl of Caring, Bread for the World (BFW) and the BFW Institute for Hunger Education & Development, Washington, DC., Harvesters Food Network, Heart of America Hunger Coalition, WyCo Emergency Assistance Coalition, WyCo Homeless Coalition, as well as KC Metropolitan Bread for the World Leadership Council, Heart of America Walk for the Hungry Coordinating Committee and KCMO Mayor's Task Force on Food & Hunger under Mayor Berkeley and Mayor Cleaver. She also had occasions to interact with Bishop Desmond Tutu, Maki Mandela, and Ambassadors from various countries.

Through the years she worked with Democrat & Republican members of Congress at the local, state and national levels. She was recommended by Senator Bob Dole as one of only eleven people from across the US to serve on the Congressional Advisory Committee on the Welfare Simplification and Coordination Committee in 1991 to serve as an advocate for the poor.

In February 1991, Marie was nominated as President Point of Light, and received a commendation from president George H. W. Bush on February 21, 1992. In 2005, Marie was one of 100 people chosen as US delegates to the One Campaign - Make Hunger History. They traveled to Edinburg, Scotland during the G-8 Summit with transportation provided by Sir Richard Branson through his Virgin Atlantic Airlines.

She had a strong media presence down through the years. She was interviewed on C-Span, CNN, and for People Magazine. She participated in three international consultation panels on Hunger and Poverty, and was featured on the CBS Morning News. She also spoke at the National Cathedral several times on advocacy. Locally she appeared on Fox 4 and KCTV5.

Marie Frasure departed this life on Saturday, May 22, 2021. She leaves to celebrate her legacy: her devoted husband, James Frasure Jr.; her children, LaTonya McDaniel, Rudolph Bledsore, Donnetta Riley (Andre'), Carmen White (Yolanda) & Deltra Frasure; 14 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren, siblings, Teddy VanVale, Melvin Lee, Pete White, Noland White, Derek Everidge, Angela Everidge-Jones and Patricia Beard; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, loved ones and friends.  

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