Mary Katharine Ham Instagram – My friend Alice left us yesterday, far too soon. She was a real light in this world. Many people have used the word kind in paying tribute to her, and it’s not coincidence. She was unfailingly kind in a way that told everyone she met that she cared about what they cared about. It was probably that quality that made her so good at her job. At its best, public policy is an endeavor to understand what other people care about most and speak to it.
We shared a delight in the Dawgs, and in being the ideological outlier in a room, whether it was on a TV panel or a college campus. We both loved a good tough run and Jesus. I admired her so much.
We crossed paths in Little Rock, her longtime home, right before the pandemic. I was giving a speech, she was helping organize the Little Rock Marathon. We went out for a beer and talked about life in that way that comes a little easier when you’re in a city one of you calls home, away from the bustle of D.C. She gave me a recommendation for a hike and a BBQ joint. I tried both and almost missed my flight watching a sunrise at the top of an Arkansas peak. We laughed at the idea that we live mere miles from each other but saved getting together for a random night halfway across the country.
I saw her and stayed in touch plenty after that but that night felt special because it came before life changed in such unforeseeable ways. Now, it has changed again in an unforeseeable way.
We always said we should run together, but if I’m honest, she was too fast for me. It is hard to believe that this faithful servant has fought the good fight and finished her race. But if you knew Alice, you knew she was every day “running with perseverance the race marked out for [her], fixing [her] eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”
The last thing I said to her was she looked “GORGEOUS IN GOLD” for the White House Correspondents Dinner. She looked so great, it was worth all caps. This feels so awful and inexplicable here.
But I’ve heard the streets are gold where she is going, and I pray she is having the most gorgeous run there now. I’ll miss her. | Posted on 20/May/2024 05:37:59
