Alex Akin Miani, 55, passed away on January 5, 2026. She was born on July 7, 1970, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to the Reverend G. Coleman Akin and Dolores Akin.A proud preacher’s kid, Alex grew up in many small towns across Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri alongside her older siblings, Chris and Amber. Following her parents’ divorce, she moved to Houston, Texas, where she attended Valley Oaks Elementary School and Spring Branch Middle School. She later went to live with her father in North Carolina and graduated from Apex High School in Apex, NC.Athletics were a constant thread throughout Alex’s life. She played volleyball, basketball, and softball growing up, including playing on Apex High School’s basketball team alongside Jimmy Valvano’s daughter. Alex’s love of sports continued into adulthood as she became a professional softball umpire, a role that combined her competitive spirit, fairness, and deep love of the game. It was through this chapter of her life that she met the love of her life, Suni Miani. Alex and Suni were married in 2004 and made their home in Oregon before eventually settling in Tracy, California, where they were active members of their local Elks Lodge. Alex thrived in fast-paced environments and especially loved working in commercial kitchens. She worked for Red Robin, traveling extensively to train kitchen staffs and help open new restaurant locations across the country. Together, Alex and Suni were avid travelers, enjoying numerous cruises and adventures. Eventually, they embraced life on the road, purchasing a mobile home and traveling throughout the United States with their beloved dogs Chevy and Miss Mafia. During one of these journeys, they visited Humboldt, Tennessee, and felt called to plant roots there. They joined Elks Lodge 192, which quickly became an extended family and a central part of their lives. In February 2024, Alex suffered the devastating loss of her beloved wife, Suni. In her honor, Alex organized the first annual Elks Lodge Olympic Games, raising funds for the West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in Jackson, Tennessee, where Suni is laid to rest. Alex was especially proud of the support this effort received, and meeting the Department of Veteran Services Assistant Commissioner Patrick Rice, who traveled to accept the donation. Alex was preceded in death by her mother, Dolores Collier; her father, the Reverend G. Coleman Akin; and her wife, Suni Miani. She is survived by her brother Chris Akin (Barbie); her sister Amber Winborn (Trey); her brother-in-law Lino Miani; numerous nieces and nephews; cousins, and countless friends who became family through a lifetime of love, loyalty, and shared adventure. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery or Best Friends Animal Society.