R.T. FORT SR.

R.T. Fort, Sr. was born on June 22, 1919, in Hooks, Texas to the late Mathis S. Fort and Minnie Ola Lockhart Fort. His siblings R.E. Fort, Sr., Seaony Lomax, H.M. Fort, Sr., Grace Goulsby, Mathis Fort, Jr., Lloyd Fort, Ostine Hearon, and Lee Ester Greenwood preceded him in death. His wife of 66 years, Ann Fort, also preceded him in death.

He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior at an early age. He graduated from Hooks High School in 1939.

He served in the United States Army from October 1941 to January 1946. In 1946, he moved to California and on July 28, 1946, he married the love of his life, Anna Jane Benson. To this union three children were born, Rue T. Fort, Jr., Timothy E. Fort and Jamila (Patricia) A. Fort. R.T. was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Venice for more than sixty years. Upon relocating to Hooks, Texas, he became a member of Greater St. John Missionary Baptist Church.

He leaves to his memory: two sons, Rue T. Fort, Jr. (Diane) and Timothy E. Fort; one daughter, Jamila (Patricia) A. Fort; five grandchildren, Rusean Fort, Sr., Jameel Fort, Sr. (Naijah), Cheron Fort (Carlos Sr.), Ryan Fort (Nikki) and Devin Fort; eleven great-grandchildren, Aaron Fort, Rusean Fort, II, Jade Fort, Nia Fort, Jameel Fort, Jr., Jaylen Stewart, Amari Stewart, Adyn McCall, Carlos Johnson, Jr., Alaya Johnson and Kailen Fort; two brothers, Everett Fort and Willie Fort; one sister-in-law, Earlene Benson; Viola Fort, Shirley H.Fort, Grady Nelson, Nyoko Thompson, Darialle McEwen, Tiffany Bell, and a host of “favorite” nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.

Visitation for Mr. Fort will be 12-2PM Friday at Haynes Mortuary. Funeral services will be 11 AM Saturday, September 11 at the First Baptist Church – Hooks.