Christine Anderson Fortenberry died peacefully on October 14, 2021, a few days after her ninety-first birthday. Named Roberta Christine for both parents, she was the daughter of the late Judge Robert Buckner Anderson and Christine Haile Anderson of Port Gibson, Mississippi. She was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on October 6, 1930.
Known as Christine, she was educated at All Saints Episcopal School and received her bachelor of arts degree in education at the University of Mississippi, where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. In 1952, she married William Lowery Fortenberry and for most of her life made her home in Columbia, Mississippi. After the death of her husband of fifty-two years and at the age of eighty in 2010, she married the Reverend Roy Eaton, a childhood friend and also a native of Port Gibson.
Christine taught school for several years in both Natchez and Columbia. She was a voracious reader of American history and had a lifelong interest in genealogy. She also enjoyed creating beautiful floral arrangements for her family and friends and for the altar at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church, where she also served as Lay Reader and Chalice Bearer. Christine served as President of Colonial Dames of America, Chapter XV (Mississippi) and served as Governor General of The Order of First Families of Mississippi, who honored her with its Meritorious Leadership Award for contributions to the preservation of Mississippi history. Christine was preceded in death by Reverend Eaton.
She is survived by her three daughters: Jane Fortenberry Gonzalez (Jose Ramon), Sarah Fortenberry North (Darden), and Ann Corso Taylor (John); her five grandchildren: Ramon Javier Gonzalez, Fernando Jose Gonzalez, William Darden North (Kelsey), Anderson Eleanor North, and Buckner Anderson Corso (Rachel); and two great-grandchildren, Lillian Evelyn and Lawson Moulton North.
Visitation will be held at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Columbia, Mississippi, on October 30 at 10 o’clock with a memorial service following at 11:00 o’clock. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 761, Columbia, MS 39429.
