Ronnie Gene Fortson

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Ronnie Gene Fortson, Sr., 62, of Leachville, died early Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born at 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 granddaughter, Casey Shepard.

Survivors include his wife, Connie Anzar Fortson of the home; three sons, Alfred Brown of Jonesboro

Frank Brown of Manila and Jeff Brown of Manila; four daughters, Diana Shepard of Leachville, Della Brown of Leachville, Marie Thompson of Manila 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. He also leaves 22 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the Howard Funeral Service Chapel in Manila with 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 Tuesday evening from 6-8 at the funeral home.

Guest register is howardfuneralservice.com.