November 26, 1954 – September 2, 2026
Robert Lee Fornes, Jr., 71, passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 2, 2026, after fighting longer and enduring more than his family and medical team believed possible.
Born in Greenville, North Carolina, on November 26, 1954, Robert was the eldest child of the late Robert Lee Fornes, Sr. and Evelyn Grace Ayers. He grew into a man remembered for extraordinary strength, quiet sacrifice, hard work, and a heart that loved deeply.
Nothing lit Robert’s face quite like racing or the sound of a well-built engine. He raced on dirt tracks, including at Talladega, followed NASCAR, and spent a lifetime building motors and finding ways to make things go faster. That love of speed and machines became part of his family and lives on through his children and grandson. He was also a country boy who enjoyed fishing, tending plants, old-time things, coffee, Mountain Dew, Hank Williams, Sr., and Marty Robbins. He took pride in his family’s Native American heritage and enjoyed attending powwows.
Robert was an early riser, observant and patient, and often quiet until someone got him talking. Then came the jokes, charm, stories, and smooth talk. He hated drama, tried to keep the peace, worked hard, and would give the shirt off his back to someone he loved. He was not a perfect man, but he was a good man – strong as an ox, forgiving, fiercely loyal, and grounded in his love for God. He fought hard, loved hard, and left his family stronger.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Evelyn Gray; and his brother, Marvin Glenn Fornes.
He is survived by his siblings, Lois Faye, Catherine Jean, and Bonnie Art Fornes; his children and their spouses, Robert Glenn and Janice Marie Fornes, Karen Marie and Imran Syed Haider, and John Allen and Beth Nicole Fornes; and his grandchildren, Zia Jibril Haider and Peyton Elizabeth Fornes.
A graveside Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 12:00 noon at Brown Cemetery, 1150 Oak Grove Road, New Hope, Alabama.
Interment will be in Brown Cemetery.
www.nhfh.net
