Aljewell Nelson Fort

"He saw your path was difficult, he closed your tired eyes,
He whispered to you "Peace be Thine" and gave you wings to fly."

Aljewell Fort was born to Freeman Nelson, Sr. and Jewellene Lashley on August 28, 1945. Aljewell grew up with solid family values and a love for the Lord which shaped her upbringing. She became a member of St. Ruth Baptist Church, Gum Springs, Arkansas at an early age. Later in life, she became a member of Easter Star Baptist Church, Smithton, Arkansas. Aljewell was a 1963 graduate of Peake High School in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. While in High School, Aljewell met the love of her life, William Lee Fort Jr. whom she married on July 4, 1965.

The wife of a military man, Aljewell traveled the country while her husband served in the United States Navy and Army. Both she and her husband moved back to Arkadelphia, Arkansas where they remained throughout life.

Aljewell and William Lee Fort Jr. brought into the world their children, Anthony Craig Fort, Shellie Jeneane Fort (Grice), Eric Byron Fort, Kindall Elaine Fort.

Aljewell Fort (Mama) always believed it was better to give than to receive. She was a sweet, dear woman who tried to bless others the way she had been blessed. She prayed every day for herself, her family and others. Mama always loved helping others and it was her passion. Not only did she have a passion for people, she also had a passion for animals. She dearly cared for and loved all manner of creature. She also loved to go fishing and picking fresh dew berries and other fruit. She could seemingly forecast the weather by the quirky twitching of her eyes. It was amazing how accurate she was.

Mama could always make it better! From Pine Straw Tea to Castor Oil treatments, no one was a better house doctor than mama. She had a green thumb as well! She famously grew two gigantic sweet potatoes that weighed in at 15 pounds that earned her County Fair ribbons for first place. She was a wiz at growing just about any vegetable she could get the seeds for. No one could can vegetables and make preservatives like she could. From jellies to Chow, Chow, she could do it all. Mama was an outstanding cook (she was fierce in the kitchen). If you were one of the lucky ones who tried her sweet potato, pecan, dew-berry, apple, or lemon ice-box pies, you know this to be fact. She also made exquisite strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, and lemon cakes you were lucky to get a piece of. You cannot leave out her banana puddings or custards. How else could she have kept her family so healthy!

Our mother was a true rarity and she will be missed dearly.

On October 7, 2015, the Lord called her home to be at rest with the loved ones that made their journey before her. Aljewell Fort was preceded in death by her father Freeman Nelson Sr., (1977), her brother Freeman Nelson, Jr. (1990), her husband William Lee Fort Jr., (1996), her daughter Kindall Elaine Fort and her grandson Tyrie Jarrel Fort (1997) and her mother Jewellene Nelson-Allen (2013).

She leaves to cherish her precious memory: her son, Anthony Fort of Arkadelphia, Arkansas and his significant other, Tara Gulley of Hot Springs, Arkansas; her daughter, Shellie Grice of Malvern, Arkansas; her son, Eric Fort and daughter in law, Monica Fort of Fate, Texas; her brother, James Harold "Sonny" Nelson of Chicago, Illinois; her brother in law, Leon Blackmon Jr., and his wife Faye Blackmon both of Van Nuys, California; and her brother, Leon Nelson of Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

She also leaves behind her grandchildren: Shakieda Jenae Grice of Memphis, Tennessee, Arneshia Sanquez Grice of Mesquite, Texas, Archantae Marie Grice of Commerce, Texas, Jewellen Lorraine Fort of Fate, Texas, William Kylen Jarrel McKinney of Malvern, Arkansas, and Emaure Jaeson Lee Fort of Fate, Texas.

In addition, she leaves behind her aunt Aldonia Lashley of Little Rock, Arkansas, three special sons: Christopher Louis Dixon of Little Rock, Arkansas, Allen Jefferson of Rocky Mount, North Carolina and Frederick Dawn of Mesquite, Texas. She also leaves behind a close friend of the family, Mrs. Jodie Mitchell, wife of (George D. Mitchell Jr.) of Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

Aljewell Fort also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, and classmates from Peake High School class of 1963.

Funeral services will be Saturday, October 17, 2015 at St. Ruth Baptist Church in Gum Springs at 1 P.M. under the direction of Mitchell Funeral Home with Rev. Rufus R. Hatley as eulogist. Visitation will be Friday, October 16, 2015 at the funeral home from 12 P.M. to 7 P.M. with family hour from 5 P.M. to 7 P.M.

*** You have suffered and borne the Cross for long enough. You have earned your eternal rest with the Lord. ***

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