Evelyn R. Fuller

Evelyn passed away on September 30, 2015 .Born June 5, 1908, she had celebrated her 107th birthday at Brookdale Retirement community. Mrs. Fuller was the elder daughter of the late James William Richards and Cosby Alice Brock Richards.

She was predeceased by her loving husband of 60 years Hugh Durrell Fuller of Birmingham, a sister, Martha Hazel Burwell (Harrison) of Birmingham, and brothers, Edgar Maurice Richards of Birmingham, William Earl Richards(Frances) of Birmingham.

Mrs. Fuller’s life was dedicated to her family and to elementary education; she was passionate about making a difference, in the lives of her students and in the development of her profession. She became active in education management and its politics in the state. She graduated from Howard College (now Samford University) with a BS degree in education. She then taught Speech Arts and Literature at Kennedy Elementary School for 12 years. Leaving there, she taught History and Geography at Avondale Elementary School for 13 years before retiring from active classroom teaching. Mrs. Fuller remained interested in education and its applications and mentored many teachers as they became interested in the advancement of the profession. She was a 50 year member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society for Women Educators, Xi chapter, serving on all of the committees and chairing half of them during her tenure. She served as their State President 1978-1980. She was President of the Alabama State Classroom Teachers Association 1966-1967. She was Vice President of AEA in 1968. She was the Regional Director of the National Association of Classroom Teachers1970-1972. Her greatest accomplishment, she viewed, was her activity on the Board of Control of the Alabama State Teacher’s Association Retirement System from 1965-1980. Her greatest honor was to be invited as one of two U.S. educators to attend the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Women’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington D.C. -1970. Ms. Fuller is listed in the Who’s Who in American Education. She also served as the Third District Director of the Federation of Women’s Clubs and as President of Concordia and Fenelon Literary Clubs. Mrs. Fuller was a member of the Highlands United Methodist Church and later Canterbury United Methodist Church.

She is survived by a daughters, Beverly Alice Register(Harry)of Birmingham and Carol Ann Hinkle (Phillip) of Birmingham; Grandchildren: Margaret Leigh Fullington (David) of Birmingham, Jonathan Hugh Register (Leslie) of Birmingham, Harry Buford Register, III (Andrea) of Fairfield Connecticut , Leigh Ann Hinkle Barker( Chad) of Chattanooga, Tennessee and Great Grandchildren: William Hugh Fullington of Birmingham, Elizabeth Grace Register of Raleigh, North Carolina, Katherine Fuller Register of Birmingham, Madelaine Kerr Register of Fairfield Connecticut, Ella Grace Barker of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Chloe Annabell Barker of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Dexter August Barker of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Family would also like to thank Ella Steele, Lillie Jones, Jackie Jackson and Brenda Terrell for the kind and loving care afforded to “Miss Evelyn” in her last days.

She will be interred at Elmwood Cemetery with a simple service attended by family only. A celebration of her life will held at 4 PM, Sunday, October 4 at Brookdale Retirement Community. Any remembrances in memory of Mrs. Fuller should be directed to Canterbury United Methodist Church or to the charity of your choice.