Willie Sue “Billie” Fortenberry, 89, passed away April 19, 2015 after a brief illness. She was born in Haleyville and had resided at Columbia Cottage in Florence, Alabama for three years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Ullman Jackson Fortenberry; parents, William Eldert and Lillie Mae Bates Cook; sisters, Millerine Howell, Marjorie Barber and Jo Dobbs; son in law, Duke Phillips.
She is survived by two daughters, Donna McCreary(Marc) and Carol Phillips of Florence, Alabama; her grandchildren, Ashli Smith, Florence, Alabama, Ami Ross of Birmingham, Alabama, Alison Gengelbach of Columbia, Tennessee, Katie Schomberg of Wayneville, North Carolina, Leah McCreary, Nashville, Tennessee and Andrew Phillips, Birmingham, Alabama; eleven great grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Scott Smith, Kenyon Ross, Carlyle Schomberg, Brandon Gengelbach, Andrew Phillips and Jackson Ross.
At her request and in her own words, the honorary pallbearers will be “all of the children that I taught in kindergarten”.
Mrs. Fortenberry retired from teaching kindergarten with her sister, Jo Dobbs after 18 years. She was always involved with family, church activities and played the piano. As time went on she found her true calling and passion; history and research. As the “self appointed” town historian, she wrote the history of the railroads, First Baptist church and the Haleyville schools. Two years were spent gathering information for the Centennial Edition of the Northwest Alabamian. She worked with Don Dodd to publish his book “The Free State of Winston”. In 1998 she was named “Woman of Excellence” during the Haleyville Women’s conference and was Haleyville Alumnus of the year in 2004.
Visitation will be Friday, April 24, 2015 from noon-1 p.m. and the funeral service will be from 1 p.m.-2 p.m. at Pinkard Funeral Home in Haleyville, Alabama.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to their friends for their loving support and to the staff at Columbia Cottage Assisted Living in Florence.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church, 1103 21st St., Haleyville, AL 35565.
You may leave condolences at pinkardfh.com
