Thursday, October 19, 2023

Danny Lee Fortune

Danny Lee Fortune, 75, passed away on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. Visitation will be Thursday, October 19 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Nowell-Massey Funeral Home in Louisville, Mississippi. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, October 20 in the Nowell-Massey Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Franklin Smith officiating. Interment will immediately follow the service in McGee Cemetery in Leake County with Reverend Gerald Brannum officiating.

He was born February 22, 1948, to Earl Lee and Marteen Brock Fortune. Danny went by many names: “Sweetheart,” “Daddy,” “PawPaw,” “Uncle Danny,” and “Cleave”; but to a certain few he was called “Baby.” He married Linda Drury, the love of his life, in 1969. They had two beautiful boys they named Jeff and Chad. He answered the call of his country by serving two years in the United States Army at Fort Polk, Louisiana, Fort Sills, Oklahoma, and for one year in Germany. After completing his tour of duty in Germany, he came home to meet his son Jeff.

In his free time, Danny enjoyed fishing in Cobb Creek and below Old Highway 13 where we cooked every Memorial Day. He participated in a Wednesday night poker group and also a Saturday night poker group, which he loved dearly.

Danny is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Linda Drury Fortune, and his two sons, Jeff Fortune and Chad Fortune all of the Four Corners Community. In having two sons, he also gained two daughters: Tyawanna (Jeff) Fortune and Ann (Chad) Fortune. He also leaves behind six grandchildren whom he loved more than anything in this world: Andrew Fortune (Raven Bane-Fortune), Delaney (Stephen) Guy, Hunter (Jessica) Goodin, Jessica Fortune (Alena Jones-Fortune), David Fortune (Joleigh Pickel) and Abigail Fortune; as well as six great-grandchildren. Danny also had a bonus daughter, Ruby Dean Carter, who was not his own but was never treated as such. He is also survived by two sisters, Betty Newsome and Patricia McDonald, and his little brother, Chris (Tonya) Fortune. He is preceded in death by his parents, and his older brother, Benny Fortune.

Serving as pallbearers are Andrew Fortune, David Fortune, Corey Fortune, Ayden Fortune, Zach Fortune, and Stephen Guy. Honorary pallbearers are Charles Bennett, Jerry Vowell, V. C. Manning, Sawyer Goodin, Waylon Fortune, and Wiley Fleming. Memorials in honor of Danny may be given to the McGee Cemetery Fund, c/o Michelle Joiner, 4375 Ebenezer Road, Carthage, MS 39051.