Georgia Fortune

As beautiful as a rose to see, was her life she lived so gracefully.  She made things precious by her touch; her selfless love lives on in each of us.  The petals of her life fell one by one; each a gift of her heart till there were none.  Yet her radiance blooms once again in fields of glory with no end.

Georgia Fortune was born March 3, 1922. in Elmore City Oklahoma, to James Franklin, Sr. and Elmira Richardson Franklin. She was the 5th of 14 children born in the family.  She had 5 brothers, Bealie, Alvin, Willis, Lee Earl, James Jr., and 8 sisters, Alta, Susie, Laura, Mardena, Gertrude, Dorothy, Varie and Argrene .  As you might imagine, times were hard, yet she and her siblings speak often of the good times they shared, they were very close.

The strength Georgia would display throughout her life was exhibited early on when she became ill with TB.  This illness caused her to drop out of school around the 10th grade and she had to leave home to receive treatment.  With the grace of the Most High and her determination, she fought her way back to health!

Georgia moved to Denver as a very young woman where she married, Pinky L Jackson and was widowed early in life.  She was the mother of four children, Loretta, Larry, Carolyn and Stanley.  As a single mother, she worked in various fields including hotel/restaurant, hospital and domestic, working two jobs whenever it became necessary down through the years.  Georgia pursued her education obtaining her GED after she raised her family.  Her last employer was the US Government, Federal Center. She married, Ozell Fortune and they moved to Atlanta, Texas.  She lived in Texas 25 years, moving back to Denver after her husband passed 15 years ago.

Georgia was what you might call ‘frugal’, she definitely didn’t believe in wasting, and that pretty much included everything.  What she did believe in was saving her money and she was never known to be ‘broke’….the woman took care of business!  She was the kindest and most gentle person you ever met, always willing to lend a helping hand and there are many here today that can attest to that.  She was a devout Christian, starting every morning for the past many, many years, with a conversation with her Savior and reading her daily devotionals.  She was a faithful member of Mt Carmel Baptist church in Denver for many years before moving to Atlanta, Texas where she became an active member of Enon First Baptist Church.

She was very creative, talented, and made the most beautiful quilts, never using a sewing machine. She was a loving, wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend.  She will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known this kind and wonderful woman.  To know Georgia was to love her.

Georgia was preceded in death by her parents, James and Elmira Franklin, a son, Larry Jackson; seven siblings, Susie and Alvin Franklin (who died as children), Bealie Franklin, Laura Colbert, Mardena Simmons, Gertrude Simmons, and Alta Roberts.

Georgia Fortune departed this life to the embrace of the Lord on August 7, 2021, in Denver, Colorado.  Those left to cherish her memory and mourn her loss include her daughters, Elmira Loretta Tolbert and Carolyn F. Wilkins both of Denver, Colorado; her son, Stanley D. (Karen) Wrightsil of Aurora, Colorado; 3 brothers, Willis (Mary) Franklin, Lee Earl (Ernestine) Franklin, and James (Jean) Franklin, Jr. all of Aurora, Colorado; 3 sisters, Dorothy F. Poindexter of Aurora, Colorado, Varie Story and Argrene Stevenson both of Denver, Colorado; 4 grandchildren, Georgia Marlett, Detri Wilkins, Terald Tolbert, and Mauray Tolbert; 10 great grandchildren; 27 great great grandchildren; and 3 great great great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews cousins, other relatives and many friends.

In honor of Georgia, a Visitation will be held, Sunday, August 15, 2021, 12:00PM-4:00PM (Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace 6601 East Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80220). Celebration of Life, Monday, August 16, 2021 11AM (Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace), followed by Interment at Fairmount Cemetery (430 S Quebec St, Denver, CO 80247).