Alvin

Porter

Alvin Larnell Porter was born on August 26, 1953, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to the late Thomas and Caroline Alberta Porter. On October 10, 2025, Alvin received his final clearance for takeoff from the Main Air Traffic Controller, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and made his peaceful departure from the runway of life to his eternal home.

Alvin attended Merrill High School and carried a genuine love for learning and sharing God's word. At the age of 12, he gave his life to Christ while attending St. Luke A.M.E. Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Alvin worked for Mishawaka Brass Manufacturing and Holiday Rambler RV in Elkhart, Indiana, where he customized RVs and took pride in the craftsmanship of his work. Later, he retired as a licensed semi-truck driver from J.B. Hunt. Always finding ways to stay busy, he also enjoyed lawn care and owned his own service.

Affectionately known by friends and family as "Pondee," Alvin had a sharp sense of style and loved to dress. He had a lifelong passion for music; DJing, spinning records, and spending countless hours making mix tapes for family and friends. Those tapes, like Pondee himself, carried a mix of joy, high energy, nostalgia, and lots of soul.

Throughout his life, Alvin traveled near and far, meeting people from all walks of life. His journey wasn't without challenges, but through it all, he held onto his faith and his belief in second chances. No matter where the road led him, he never lost sight of his faith. While living in Flint, Michigan, he attended Vernon Chapel A.M.E., where he continued to grow and find his own way with God. When his health failed, he relocated to Toledo, OH, to be cared for by his family. Shortly after his arrival, he joined St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. James H. Willis, Sr.

One of Alvin's favorite scriptures, shared by his niece Christene, was Proverbs 1:5: "Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance." In his own quiet way, Alvin lived that verse…still learning, still reflecting, and perhaps still seeking forgiveness in the places his words couldn't reach.

Though he had his share of struggles and wasn't always easy to understand, his faith remained an important part of who he was. Those who knew Alvin remember a man who could be stubborn one moment and thoughtful the next; someone who had a great sense of humor, kept talking, and showed up in his own way. His family and friends will remember his resilience, his strength, his laughter, and the love he carried in his heart.

Alvin was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Thomas and Caroline Alberta Porter; sisters, Wilma Cooper, Ardella Porter, and Rebecca Porter; and brothers, Robert and Roosevelt Porter.

He leaves to cherish his memory his two children, Marcia and David (Catie) Porter, of TX; siblings: Freddie Nelson, Loretta Thomas, Tommy (Carolyn) Porter, and Beverly Porter, all of Toledo, OH; Gloria Adcock, of Southaven, MS; Rose Green, of Spring Hill, TN; and Vanessa Moran, of Lebanon, TN; sister-in-law, Bettie Porter, of South Bend, IN; four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and special friends who will forever remember him with love and gratitude.