Betty Johnston Fulton

Betty Johnston Fulton of Gardendale, Alabama, died peacefully at home following a brief battle with brain cancer on March 11, 2023, at the age of 84.

Betty was born on March 30, 1938, in Fayette County, Alabama to Ormand A. Johnston and Lora McCollum Johnston, the eldest of four children. She attended Ramsay High School before beginning her adult life in Fort Pierce, Florida, where she spent many years working with senior citizens, eventually leading the Council on Aging for a four-county area. She returned to school and received an associate’s degree from Indian River Community College, and then returned to the Birmingham area and earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

Betty began her teaching career as a business and office education teacher at Chelsea High School before moving to vocational education where she led the student work-study program for the Shelby County Schools. She returned to UAB and earned her master’s degree in education and spent the rest of her career as the Library Media Specialist at Thompson High School.

Betty married the love of her life and best friend, Allen Fulton, in 1976. All who knew them could see the love and devotion they had to each other throughout their 41-year marriage. Known for her extraordinary ability to connect with people, her unlimited capacity to love, and her generous spirit of concern for others, Betty will be dearly missed by all who knew her. She lived by the rule to “treat others the way you want to be treated” and this way of thinking made her a loving and devoted wife and mother, beloved teacher, and trusted friend.

Throughout her life, Betty stressed the importance of family. She cultivated close relationships with her siblings and cousins and their families and gathered them all together at every opportunity. Her life was spent bringing people together and making everyone who crossed her path feel loved.

Betty is survived by her daughter, Rhonda Cubbedge of New Orleans, Louisiana; step-daughter, Andrea (Fulton) Sligh and son-in-law Scott Sligh of Fairhope, Alabama; grandchildren, Sarah Kate and Nathan; brother, Glenn Johnston and his wife Linda of Sterrett, Alabama; sister, Shirley Hall of Gardendale; sister, Wanda Tucker and her husband Steve of Northport, Alabama; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Betty is preceded in death by her husband, Allen Fulton, and her parents, Ormand A. Johnston and Lora McCollum Johnston.

A celebration of Betty’s life is scheduled for Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 12 noon at First Presbyterian Church of Alabaster, Alabama. The family will receive friends beginning at 11 a.m. at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Alabaster, P.O. Box 650, Alabaster, AL 35007.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.SouthernHeritageFunerals.com for Betty Fulton's family.