Julie C Fondren

Julie C Fondren, age 70, went to her heavenly home on March 18, 2023, surrounded by her loved ones. Julie was born December 19, 1952, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She was preceded in death by her parents, Glover Ottis Cockrell and Gladys Smith Cockrell of Cottondale, Alabama. Survivors include her husband, W. Frank Fondren of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; two daughters, Dell Black and Stacey Fondren of Dallas, Georgia; two sons, John Clayton (Shana) of Covington, Louisiana and Steven Fondren (Kimberli) of Cottondale, Alabama; sisters, Betty Rodgers of Cottondale, Alabama, Linda Ray (Elbert) of Duncanville, Alabama; grandchildren, Jacob Black (Taylor) of Douglasville, Georgia, Jordan Black of Dallas, Georgia, Olivia and Braden Fondren of Cottondale, Alabama; great grandchildren, Adalynn Black of Douglasville, Georgia; and a host of wonderful brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law,

Julie grew up in Tuscaloosa and graduated from Holt High School in 1971. At the young age of 23, she became the owner of a Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio in Smyrna, Georgia. She put her blood, sweat, and tears into Merle Norman for 47 years. Julie loved running her Merle Norman Cosmetics business with her daughter, Dell, and her wonderful staff.

Julie loved life and glowed as she talked to you and listened to what you had to say to her. She always took time to make each and every person she came in contact with feel like the most important person in the world. She prayed for everyone- her family, friends, church member of Circlewood Baptist Church for twenty-two years.

Julie was known as a wife, daughter, sister, mother, aunt, and cousin. However, the title she cherished most was Nana. Although we are saddened by her passing and will miss her more than we could possibly express, we are comforted in knowing that she is in her heavenly home with her Savior and her friends and family who were waiting for her at Heaven's gates.

Visitation for Julie will be held on Friday, March 24, 2023 from 10:00 am-11:00 am at Circlewood Baptist Church with the service to follow with Dr. Herb Thomas officiating. Pallbearers are Bobby Cockrell, Jr., J. Michael Comer, Chuck Gills, Bobby Joe James, Larry McDonald, and Paul Patterson, II. Honorary pallbearers are Julie's Merle Girls: Marissa Yancey, Kenley Fincher, and Katelyn Miller, along with close friends, Randall and Linda Dunn, Gary and Dici Herren.