Ronnie Gene Fortson Sr.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Mr. Ronnie Gene Fortson Sr., 62, of Leachville, died early Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born in Manila, he was the son of the late William Thomas and Delilah Marie Hicks Fortson. Ronnie was a retired farmer and a lifelong area resident. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a son, Ronnie Fortson Jr.; four sisters; three brothers; and a grandchild.

Survivors include his wife; Connie Anzar Fortson of the home;

Three sons, Alfred Brown of Jonesboro, and Frank Brown and Jeff Brown of Manila;

Four daughters, Diana Shepard and Della Brown of Leachville and Marie Thompson and Amy Parker of Manila;

Three brothers, Randy Fortson of Hornersville, Mo., Earl Fortson of Barnesville, Ga., and Billy Fortson of McDougal, Ga.;

One sister, Shirley Hamilton of Hackett, Ark.; and

Twenty-two grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Howard Funeral Service Chapel in Manila with the Rev. Rowdy Fortson officiating. Burial will follow in Gainesville Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Blake Miller, Jeffrey Brown, Gavin Parker, Nicholas Carmichael, John Thompson, and Sean Parker. The family will receive visitors from 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home. A guest register is available at www.HowardFuneralService.com