Presenting our great legacy and heritage……..

We are descendants of Oscar Eugene (affectionately known as O.E.) and Martha Louise Fortson. O.E. and Martha were both born into slavery. According to our research of census data and history, we can project that they lived somewhere near the mid-1800’s. We were aware of their lineage for a while as the only known linkage to our history. However, our lineage goes back much farther than this ( special thanks to our cousin Deirdre Carter-Meinke. Let’s look a little farther into the history.

O.E. Fortson’s Parents

The account of OE Fortson’s parents as it is believed and researched. Originally, Mercer Fortson (1817) and Judy Jane Fortson (1820) were married. They had 10 children listed below:

• Jackson Fortson

• William Fortson

• Green Fortson

• Evans Fortson

• Levina Fortson

• Mattie Fortson

• Nick Fortson

• Charley Fortson

• Beatrice Fortson

• Wiley Fortson

Of Wiley Fortson’s (born circa 1842) descendants, the lineage of O.E. Fortson would begin. Wiley Fortson married Martha (Tasner) Fortson and had eleven children. Here are Wiley Fortson’s descendants:

• Mary Jane Fortson

• William H. Fortson

• Guss Ellison

• Lucius Fortson

• James Fortson

• Jones Fortson

• Zora Fortson

• Walter Fortson

• Lawrence Fortson

• Thomas W. Fortson

• Oscar E. Fortson, Sr.

O.E. and Martha were both born in the state of Alabama near/in the city of Enon. O.E.’s The union between the two individuals happened as it commonly did during this period of time: with the transferring of each individual to new slave masters. As slaves, they were sold to slave masters residing in the Uchee Community. Uchee Community was and is located near Hatchechubbee, Alabama which is centered in the southernpart of Russell County, Alabama. O.E. and Martha were later united in matrimony. As a result of their marriage, they raised their 10 children within this community. The names of these children were Theodore, Halton, John, Oscar, Willie James, Lucious, Wiley, Lucy (Bailey), Juanita and Attrice Marie. O.E. also had another child named Freddie Mae (Alexander) Fortson.

Oscar Eugene (O.E.) Fortson (first picture to the right), according to census records, was born February 1875 in Enon, AL. Oscar’s date of death is unknown.

Martha Louise (Dent) Fortson (second picture to the right), according to census records, was born December 1879 in Enon, Alabama, USA. Martha died December 21st 1963 in Phenix City, Alabama at the age of 84.

Oscar Eugene (O.E.) and Martha Louise’s Direct Lineage

The genealogy of Theodore Fortson:

• Theodore Fortson (also known as “Mutt”) was never married and did not have any children.

  The genealogy of Halton Fortson:

• Halton Fortson was born in 1895 in Alabama and died April 1975 in Phenix City Alabama. He was married to Lois Fortson and had three children.

• Their names: Halton J. Fortson Jr., Clara Myrtle Davis, Mildred Lee Fortson.

  The genealogy of John Fortson:

• John Fortson (details unknown)

  The genealogy of Oscar E Fortson Jr.:

• Oscar E. Fortson, Jr. was born April 8, 1908 in Bullock, Alabama and died December 7, 1952 in Enon Alabama at the age of 44. He married Sallie Mae (Scott) Fortson. They had a total of nine children.

• Their names: Andrew Fortson, Carl Fortson, Clorine CJ Fortson, Lessye Fortson, Theodore Fortson, Walter Fortson, Oscar Fortson III, Gaines Ella Fortson, Isadoro Fortson.

  The genealogy of Willie James Fortson

• Willie James (Pie) Fortson (birth and death unknown). Willie James married Pernella (Gary) Fortson. They had a total of nine children.

• There names: Emma Lue (“Ohma”) Fortson, M.L. (“Maine”) Fortson, Willie Mae (Samuel) Fortson, Mary (“Aunt Nundy”) (Harris) Fortson, Attrice Marie (“Aunt Sister”")(Clausell) Fortson, Lewis (“Shuga Sack”) Fortson, Lucious (“Bee Honey”) Fortson, Allen (“Tittie”) Fortson, James (“Nick”) Fortson.

  The genealogy of Lucious Fortson:

• Lucious Fortson was born January 6th 1913 (birthplace unknown) and die May 1981 in Phenix City, Alabama at the age of 68. He married Essie (Gibson) Fortson. They did not have any children.

   The genealogy of Wiley Fortson:

• Wiley (Dent) Fortson was born June 23, 1906 in Hatchechubbee, Alabama and died April 1968 in Phenix City, Alabama. He married Louisiana Lowe. They had a total of five children.

• Their names: Doris J. Fortson, Willie O. Fortson, Jessie M. Fortson, Martha Fortson and Juanita Fortson.

   

  The genealogy of Lucy (Bailey) Fortson:

• Lucy (Bailey) Fortson was born March 11, 1914 in Enon Alabama and died August 14, 1998 in Columbus, GA at the age of 84. She married Mance L. Bailey Sr. They both had a total of eight children.

• Their names: Oneida F. Bailey, Ernest Bailey, Margie T. Bailey, Harvey Lee Bailey, Mance L. Bailey Jr., Bernice L. Bailey, Ulysses Bailey, Lucy Faye Bailey.

  The genealogy of Juanita Fortson:

• Juanita Fortson, also affectionately known as “Aunt Bain” was born March 22, 1923 in Midway Bullo Alabama and died October 25, 2005 at the age of 82. She married Lucius Davis. (Uncle Preacher). They had one child.

• Her name: Kris Fortson.

   

  The genealogy of Attrice Marie Fortson:

• Attrice Marie Fortson was born 1920 in Alabama (birth place and death date unknown). She married William H. Brown.

  The genealogy of Freddie Mae (Alexander) Fortson:

• Freddie Mae (Alexander) Fortson was born June 16, 1913 and died December 29, 1993 at the age of 80. She married Elijah Alexander. Together, they had seven children. Freddie Mae also had another child for a total of eight children.

• Their names: Anthony K. Alexander, Inell Alexander, Ivory Alexander, Louise Alexander, Patricia Alexander, Ruby Alexander, Dollie J. Alexander and Charles Davis, Jr.