Donald Ferrell Fortenberry, 69, passed away Wednesday night, May 6, 2020, at the North Mississippi Medical Center Hospice Unit in Tupelo. Don was born August 18, 1950, in Pontotoc to the late James Thomas and Sarah Grace Biffle Fortenberry. He served as a police officer for the City of Jackson Police Department for 21 years and later taught at Smithville Attendance Center for 16 years. Active with the Boy Scouts, Don proudly obtained the Eagle scout rank and served as a scout leader for six years. He enjoyed ham radios and was often found to be responsible for various shenanigans among his family and friends. Of all his names and titles he used throughout his lifetime, none of them suited his fancy as much as being Papa Don to his grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m Saturday, May 9, at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Fulton with Rabbi Thomas M. Fortenberry officiating. Burial will be in Itawamba Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from noon until service time Saturday at the funeral home.
Survivors include his beloved wife of 44 years, Beverley Freeman Fortenberry; one son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Kari Fortenberry; one daughter, Rebecca Fortenberry; and his three grandchildren, Tyler, Nova, and Sam Fortenberry, all of Fulton; two brothers, Thomas Fortenberry (Sandy) of Florence, MS, and Jim Fortenberry (Chris) of the Cincinnati area; two sisters, Sandra Fortenberry of Bartlett, TN, and Alecia Wallace (Bill) of Brandon; and a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family members.
He was preceded in death by one son, Joshua David Fortenberry, and his parents.
Pallbearers will be Jerry Hodge, Matthew Hodge, Thomas Wallace, Robert Rosenkrans, and David Cazalas.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jeff Clingan, Stu Herring, and Johnny Freeman.
