Mary A Fleetwood

Mary Annis Sullivan was born July 31, 1931, and lived 93 years, guided by her faith in Jesus Christ for all but the earliest years. Her spiritual gifts of compassion, service, and leadership left an amazing legacy.

She enjoyed telling stories about life on the farm in Winfield, Alabama – a small child helping her mama, hand-raising a runt pig, working the fields, canning, and raising and harvesting chickens for sale in town. Her father’s sudden death just prior to high school graduation derailed her plans for more schooling to become a dietitian, so she moved to a boarding house in Birmingham and found office work there.

Although learning “city” life skills like the use of a telephone was challenging, she persevered and thrived.

In 1950, she went on a group date that included Lewis Fleetwood, a dashing, young Navy veteran. They married in August of that year and were devoted to one another for the 63 years prior to Lewis leaving for heaven. Their family expanded to include children Juanita, Dexter, and Melanie. The family home was always full of love, discipline and everything needed for a healthy family.

As a full-time homemaker, Mary was always involved in church and school activities. At church, she taught Sunbeams, Bible-classes, and VBS, organized fellowship meals, hosted after-church gatherings at home, and attended faithfully. Passionate about education, she encouraged her children to learn, to complete homework, and especially to read. Her support of school activities included taking homemade goodies to class parties, taking leadership roles in the PTA and in carnivals, and was the mother the school could always count on to help.

Her love for reading expanded to include encouraging others to read. When she helped in her high school library and had read all the books, she was able to guide others to books they might like. Regular trips to the city library and book subscriptions passed on the love of reading to her children. She started a library in Belcher Memorial Baptist church, donated most of the books, and served as the librarian.

When able to return to full-time employment, Mary worked in accounting for multiple companies and government entities, always progressing in her career. Mary and Lewis both loved to travel, touring Europe, Canada, Mexico, multiple Caribbean islands, and 49 of the United States after retirement. She also visited Japan and the 50th state with other family.

As a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, Mary’s compassion for the lost, the hurting, the poor, and the grieving drove much of what she did. She was actively involved in the Southern Baptist Women’s Missionary Union (WMU) for years, supporting missions and missionaries with funding, prayer, and educational events. Her more recent ministry projects included collections for food pantries, Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, unplanned pregnancy centers, nursing home residents, and many more. Usually one of the first to bring food to a home that had lost a loved one, she also helped organize and serve bereavement meals for the family.

Mary’s trust in Jesus’ promise of eternal life for those who believed in Him gave her peace as her health declined. Jesus called her home on December 15, 2024, to be reunited with Lewis and grandson Mike Wrenn, leaving behind children Juanita Bowden, Dexter Fleetwood and wife Becky, and Melanie Lewellen, along with 10 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great grandchildren.

She will be greatly missed!

Visitation for Mary Fleetwood will take place Wednesday, January 15, 2025, from 12:30p.m. until 1:30p.m., with a Committal service at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery following at 2:30p.m.