Lillie R. Fulton

Although our hearts are aching, we do not grieve like those who have no hope, for our hope is in the Lord. Thus, we celebrate and rejoice in the life of Lillie Fulton who ended her earthly race on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

We thank God for sustaining her for 94 years and allowing her to see her children become seasoned adults and her grandchildren become educated adults with their own thriving families. Her early teachings live in us all.

Lillie Rose McCullough Fulton was born on January 11, 1931 to Minnie E Toomer and Benjamin McCullough in Ridgeland SC; the second of eight children. Many regarded her as the oldest child in her family because Lucille, her older sister, died in early childhood before many of her other siblings were born.

Mrs. Fulton grew up in the Wagon Branch community of Ridgeland SC. She attended Ellis Community School and Jasper High School. She would proudly tell her children that she was on the girls’ basketball team in high school.

Lillie was a member of St. John AME Church in Ridgeland SC. She moved to Brooklyn NY in the late 1940’s to live with her Aunt Carrie Farley who secured a job for her at Esquire Shoe Polish Company in New York City, where Mrs. Farley worked.

She was acquainted with a young man, Roosevelt James Fulton, who served in the Navy and was also born in Ridgeland but was by then living in the Hudson Valley area of Rhinebeck NY. Roosevelt would go back to Ridgeland to visit his grandparents and she caught his eye. They were married in Brooklyn, NY on September 16, 1950, the couple moved to Schenectady NY. To this union, four children were born, Robert, Lydia Patricia, Dianne, and Stephen. As the oldest sibling, Mrs. Fulton wanted to help her younger siblings explore new opportunities outside of the south and invited each of them at different spans of time to live with her and her family. Throughout her life, she felt a sense of obligation for them.

Mrs. Fulton worked in and around the Schenectady area at St. Clair Hospital, Wallace Department Store, Glendale Nursing Home, Norton Company of Watervliet NY, and Baptist Retirement Center in Scotia NY. When her first grandchild was born in 1979, Mrs. Fulton opened a daycare service in her home. She did not have to go beyond the street she and her husband lived on to get customers. Initially she started with three families and as these families grew, she had sets of siblings and other families on Vista Drive that became customers. Because of her popularity and reputation for quality childcare, and her doctor/nurse mindset for addressing minor health issues and of course, her delicious and nutritious meals, her business thrived for many years until she and Roosevelt moved to Florence SC in July of 1991.

Lillie and Roosevelt were members of Friendship Baptist Church in Schenectady NY for over 40 years. She served on the Deaconess Board, Hospitality Committee and the Reflection Choir. Very often, she managed dinners at the church because of her excellent culinary skills, and would sometimes chide her husband for volunteering her services whether it was for dinners or baked sales. She operated a small catering business from time to time under the name “Lil’s Delectable Home baked Goods”. She liked to entertain and show case her talents! Her home was the center of food and fellowship during the Holidays, special occasions, and for summer cookouts until she and her husband moved to Florence SC. She was a well-dressed woman that loved coordinating her clothes with her hats. She travelled to Laymen conventions with her husband when they lived in Scotia, NY. Since relocating to Wake Forest in late 2021, Lillie attended Covenant Life Fellowship Church with her daughter Lydia under the leadership of Pastor Kenneth Porter. She enjoyed the ministries and built a bond with Pastor and First Lady Beverly Porter and two special members Connie Garrettson and Jackie Underwood.

Many times she stood ready to bring food to friends she cared deeply about who were sick and needed a hand, always without fanfare or expectations. She was thankful for her gifts and ability to make a difference in this way. She was a great host in her home and always carried that mindset that none should come to her home and not be offered a meal. Her purpose in life was her family and she wanted to be a part of every celebration and had her own thoughts on what she would prepare if she had the opportunity.

Mrs. Fulton enjoyed being a part of her children’s circle of friends, as she grappled with having her own identity or feeling that she was enough or even liked because of her personality. You had to know her to love and appreciate her and she only opened herself up to a select few.

Mrs. Fulton was a better than average bowler for over 30 years. She participated in Women’s Leagues and Mixed Leagues. Additionally she enjoyed crocheting and among other things made afghans for all her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed a good game of spades, gardening and decorating her home during the Holidays. Every fall and Christmas season she prepared to bake a variety of pies, cakes, and cookies for family and friends to enjoy during the Holidays, often sending these gifts across the country.

Mrs. Fulton enjoyed travelling! When Dianne entered college she and Roosevelt jumpstarted years of traveling together along with, Cousins Herbert and Phyllis Smalls and brothers Frank (Mary) Polite and Earl (Mary) Polite. They took annual trips together to Montreal, Toronto, Niagara Falls, New Orleans, Biloxi, Jamaica, and the Bahamas to name a few. She continued her love of travelling even after her husbands’ passing in 2002 by traveling with her kids across the country and on cruises. In 2019, she relocated to Tomball TX, with Stephen (Felicia) and the trio moved to Wake Forest NC in 2021.

She was predeceased by, her parents Minnie and Benjamin, siblings Lucille, Nathanial, Benjamin, and Phyllis. Her husband of 52 years Roosevelt, son Robert, son in law Thomas P Ford, beloved granddaughter Danielle Marie Ford Geter, and special aunt Carrie Farley, uncle Willie McCullough, in laws Frank, Earl and Mary, Gus, Danny Polite, and Woody and Dottie Fulton. As well as close friends Lois Johnson, Matilda Welcome, Lena Hilliard, and Pauline Hamilton.

She is survived by her daughter Reverend Lydia P Ford of Wake Forest NC, Dianne Fulton of Florence SC, Stephen (Felicia) Fulton of Wake Forest, Grandchildren Trevor (Allyson) Ford of Bloomfield CT, Brittany (Markus) Bailey of Raleigh NC, Stephen II (Laury) Fulton of Houston TX, Bryan (Leah) Fulton of Charlotte NC. Great Grandchildren Jayla Geter, Brianna, Brittany, and Zyaire Ford, Markus Jr. & Brynnan Bailey, Wesley & Asa Fulton. Sisters Inez, Doretha, and Hattie, sister in laws Venus, Mary and Estelle Polite, close cousins Herbert and Phyllis Smalls, Goddaughter Adrienne Hickey. Close friends Dorothy and Leroy Hudson, Mrs. Marie Mack, and Mrs. Theresa Hilton, along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Her children kept her connected with former neighbors and church communities by initiating phone calls for her and sending cards on her behalf.

With gratitude and lasting love, her life and memory will always be etched into our hearts. We thank God for granting her a life of longevity and in which she could live with joy around her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Please keep the family of Lillie Rose McCollough Fulton in your thoughts and prayers.

Arrangements will be announced by Smith Funeral Home of Florence, LLC and Light's Funeral Home of Schenectady, NY.