Honey Bio PicTennessee's former First Lady has focused her time and attention on projects and services relating to the health and well-being of families and children. From 1982-1986, she was chairwoman of Tennessee's statewide Healthy Children Initiative. She was also a member of the 1985-1986 Southern Regional Task Force on Infant Mortality, a member of Tennessee's Governor's Task Forces on Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Day Care, and a member of the Secretary's (US, HHS) Council on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (1991-1993).

She has served as a member and vice chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Board of Directors, having been nominated by President Reagan in 1987 and reappointed by President Bush in 1991. She has also served on numerous other boards and committees, including the Public Broadcasting Service, Family Service America, the Junior League of Nashville, Nashville’s Alive-Hospice, the Dede Wallace Mental Health Center, the Ladies Hermitage Association, Leadership Nashville (which she co-founded in 1976), the University School of Nashville, Vanderbilt University's Institute of Public Policy Studies and College of Nursing, and the University of Tennessee's College of Human Ecology.

With Bob Keeshan, better known as television's "Captain Kangaroo," Honey and Lamar Alexander helped to found Corporate Child Care Management, Inc. (now Bright Horizons Family Solutions), which helps companies solve work and family issues, especially through the provision of child care at the work site. She has served as a consultant to and as a member of that company’s Board of Directors.

Mrs. Alexander grew up in Victoria, Texas, and is a graduate of Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. Following her graduation, she was staff assistant to Senator John G. Tower, R-Texas, during which time she met and married Lamar Alexander. She and Lamar have four children, and five grandchildren.