July 10, 1938 – June 3, 2018
“His life was gentle; and the elements so mix’ed in him, that Nature might stand up and say to all the world, This was a man!”
- Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
After a life enriched by his loving family and dear friends, Albert Julian Tully, Jr., M.D. passed away peacefully on June 3, 2018 in Birmingham, Alabama at the age of 79. Until his last moments, Albert’s sparkling blue eyes expressed the essence of his character – sweetness, brilliance, and humility, with a legendary sense of humor.
Albert was born on July 10, 1938 in Mobile, Alabama to Albert Julian and Jane Silverwood (Wildman) Tully. His early life in Mobile was filled with hunting, fishing and exploring the woods near his house with his friends. He often regaled his children and grandchildren with the tales of his exploits on land and sea, and most were true. Under the watchful eye of his mother, intellectual guidance of his father and spiritual upbringing at Trinity Church, Albert grew into an athlete, scholar and somewhat reluctant acolyte.
In the summer before his junior year at Murphy High School, the football and track star met a vivacious sophomore named Antoinette (Toni) Rebecca Lewis, and the story of the Tully family began. When Albert graduated from high school and was about to leave Mobile for Vanderbilt University, Albert and Toni dreaded being apart. In an abundance of teen-age wisdom, they secretly eloped. Before long, Toni was able to join her husband in Nashville and after Albert’s freshman year, Albert Scott Tully was born. Before long, Scott was joined by sister, Shir-lee Ann Tully, who was born in Tuscaloosa where Albert had transferred. With two young children and a determined wife, Albert earned his bachelor’s degree in 1960 from the University of Alabama and his medical degree from the Medical College of Alabama in 1964. The family was completed in 1965 with the birth of Rebecca Jane Tully. Albert subsequently finished residencies in Internal Medicine and Urology in 1968 and 1972, and served his country as a Naval Officer at Camp Lejeune from 1965-1967.
With Toni at his side, Albert was known for his tireless work as a physician and community leader, and for serving his patients and others throughout Birmingham with skill, humility and compassion during his 41-year career at Urology Centers of Alabama (formerly Urology Associates.) Albert is also known for establishing a Tully family legacy at University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine that spans three generations of physicians. Albert established himself as a leading light of the Birmingham medical community, highlighted by his stint as President of the Jefferson County Medical Society in 1989 and his induction into the Medical Association of the State of Alabama’s 50-Year-Club. Albert was an active member of The University of Alabama Medical Alumni Association for 30 years, serving as President from 2005 to 2007—a mirror of his service with The Caduceus Club, a support organization for the School, for which he served as President from 1995 to 1997— and he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the UAB National Alumni Society in 2006 for his outstanding leadership in support of his alma mater.
It would be impossible to imagine Albert’s achievements without the love, support and determination of Toni. A celebrated artist, Albert often said that everything interesting that ever happened to him was because of her. After 54 years of marriage, Albert was preceded in death by Toni in 2010. Albert is survived by his children, Albert Scott (Amy) Tully, Sr., M.D., Shirlee Tully and Rebecca Jane Tully (Ben, Sr., M.D.) Fulmer; his grandchildren Kathryn Alexandra Tully (William, Jr., M.D.) Oelsner, M.D., Albert Scott Tully, Jr., John Austin Tully, Rebecca Olivia Fong, Christian Alexander Fong, Benjamin Banks Fulmer, Jr., Spencer Julian Fulmer, Aaron Tully Fulmer and Nathaniel James Fulmer; and one great grandson, William Kennedy Oelsner, III.
Services for Albert will be held on Tuesday, June 5 at 4 p.m. at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church, preceded by a family visitation at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made to the Albert J. Tully, Jr., M.D., Family Endowed Medical Scholarship to support aspiring medical students at the School of Medicine at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18