James Shelton Fortune, Jr.

Life Reflection

JAMES SHELTON FORTUNE WAS BORN ON JULY 10, 1931 IN ST. LOUIS MISSOURI TO JAMES AND CARRIE FORTUNE, WHO PRECEEDED HIM IN DEATH ALONG WITH SIBLINGS: WILLIAM HENRY, IMOGENE EDWARDS, ANNETTE PAYNE, PATRICIA AND ARTHUR.

HE ATTENDED A ONE ROOM SCHOOL IN CREVE COEUR. AT AN EARLY AGE HE ACCEPTED CHRIST AS HIS LORD AND SAVIOR, AND ATTENDED GOSPEL TEMPLE C.O.G.I.C. FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

ON MAY 20, 1951, JAMES WAS UNITED IN HOLY MATRIMONY TO MARY LOUISE DAVIS, WHO PRECEED HIM IN DEATH. FROM HIS UNION TO MARY WERE BORN 3 SONS, AND 3 DAUGHTERS. TWO DAUGHTERS PRECEEDED HIM IN DEATH: RENEE ELLIS (HAROLD) AND GWENDOLYN TATE. HE LEAVES TO CHERISH IN HIS MEMORY: JEFFREY FORTUNE (CASSANDRA), DAVID FORTUNE, ANGELA DAVIS (ALAN C, SR.) AND DARRYL FORTUNE.

JAMES HAD A HOST OF GRANDCHILDREN: KORY (DIONNE), SCOTT (DANIELLE), RHONATA, JOSHUA, KAMBRIA, ADRIENNE (RASCIVE), JEFFREY NICHOLAS (MARISSA), LESLIE, ASHLEY DANIELLE (JIMMIE), ASHLEY RENEE, ALICIA (BRENT) AND ALAN C, JR. (JACQUELYN). THERE ARE ALSO 20 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, SISTER, CARRIE LEWIS, TWO SISTER-IN-LAWS, JOY KENNEY AND NANCY FORTUNE, AND A HOST OF NIECES, NEPHEWS, COUSINS, AND FRIENDS.

JAMES RETIRED FROM ST. LOUIS SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AFTER OVER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE. HE WAS AN ENTREPRENEUR, FARMER, BUILDER OF HIS OWN HOME IN THE EARLY 1960'S, AMONGST OTHER THINGS.

JAMES WAS AN ELDER IN THE CHURCH, LOVED TO WORK AT CHURCH FUNCTIONS, TRAVEL WITH THE CHURCH, FISH, HUNT, FARM, AND TELL STORIES OF THE PAST. HE LOVED HIS FAMILY, CHURCH AND FRIENDS. JAMES WAS REFERRED TO AS THE LOVE BUT FROM MEMBERS OF HIS CHURCH AS HE TRIED TO HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. DAD WAS 91 YEARS OLD AND HAD A GOOD LIFE. REST IN PEACE POP !