William Thomas Fortune Sr.

Mr. William Thomas Fortune Sr, 80 years old, was born in Selma, Alabama on 26 April 1943, and departed to heaven on 5 March 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama. William valiantly fought cancer until the very end, and took his last earthly breath surrounded by love. William was a tough United States Army careerist, where he proudly served his country for more than 22 years, who earned the rank of master sergeant. William enjoyed fishing, blues music, Cadillac cars, western movies, boxing, playing cards, gambling, and crossword puzzles. William was an intimidating disciplinarian with a quick-witted sense of humor and could surprisingly be very patient and gentle.

William was born and raised in a large Christian family in Dallas County, Alabama with 8 sisters and 5 brothers led by his father, Reverend Thomas Jefferson Fortune Sr., and his mother, Ruth Blake. William’s father served as a pastor for Baptist churches in Dallas County, Autauga County, and Wilcox County, Alabama, until his death in 1965. Mrs. Ruth Blake was the strong loving matriarch of the large Fortune family until her death in 1967. The loss of both Thomas Sr. and Ruth so early and so close together was a huge tragedy for the Fortune family that seriously impacted the lives of William and all his siblings. William graduated from R.B. Hudson High School in Selma, Alabama in 1960, and went on to attend college at Tuskegee and Selma University. Being a young student in the 1960’s in Selma impacted William personally, as he lived through his own experiences, and the experiences of his family and friends, involving various civil rights incidents.

After both of his parents died, William moved to Birmingham, Alabama for the first time to try to find work, and ultimately William ended up enlisting in the United States Army. William was a career public servant, who served in the United States Army, as a proud member of the infantry. William’s service to the country took him to multiple states and numerous countries. William was assigned to the 56th Field Artillery, Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry in Germany, served as a drill sergeant in Georgia, served as a sergeant first class in Colorado, and retired as a master sergeant ROTC instructor at Dillard and Tulane University in Louisiana. After retiring from the United States Army, William worked as a private contractor at Ft. Carson, Colorado as an instructor for various units training for combat operations until 2015. In 2016, William finally moved to Birmingham, Alabama.

William is survived by his 8 children: Alesia (Vinson), William Jr. (Tivica), Anthony (Felicia), and Daniel (Maria) of Birmingham, Alabama, Thomas (Yvonne) of Salt Lake City, Utah, Jannae and Chloe of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and William S. (Irma) of Phoenix, Arizona; 15 grandchildren: Alexis, Jayda, Alexis, Elizabeth, Thomas Jr., Ella, Mia, William III, Daniel Jr., Uriah, Emily, Janiah, Madison, Nevaeh, and Zahir; his 2 brothers Clarence (Susan) and Gilbert; his 6 sisters: Ollie (Kyle), Oranetta (Edison), Regina (Agee), Eunice, Leola (Anthony), and Barbara (Roy); and, numerous nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great-nieces, and even great great-nieces and nephews. Mr. William Thomas Fortune Sr was preceded in death by his mother Ruth, his father Thomas, his first wife Theresa, his second wife Janna, his brothers Robert, James, and Thomas Jr.; and, his sisters Wenora, Emma, and Irene.

The Memorial Service for Mr. William Thomas Fortune Sr will be on Friday, 15 March 2024 at 11:00am at Living Stones Temple, 1009 Walker Avenue in Fultondale, Alabama. At a later date, in a private ceremony, William’s remains will be laid to rest at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado.