Totsy Wall Fuller James
82, Columbia
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 17, 2018, at First Baptist Church in Starkville for Totsy Wall Fuller James, 82, of Columbia, who passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 14 at her residence. Burial followed in Memorial Gardens. Pastors Chip Stevens and Clifton Curtis officiated at the services. Visitation was held from 2 p.m. until the time of the services on Sunday, June 17 at First Baptist Church in Starkville.
She was born on Oct. 28, 1935, to James Franklin Wall and Lovie Cagle Wall in Blue Mountain. She spent her childhood in Blue Mountain, graduated from Blue Mountain High School and continued her education at Blue Mountain College. She received her bachelor’s degree in education and devoted her life to teaching, first at New Albany schools and then at Starkville Public Schools until her retirement in 1990.
While growing up in Blue Mountain, she met Joseph Franklin Fuller and he became her childhood sweetheart. They married on Dec. 23, 1955, and they enjoyed 16 years of marriage prior to his death in 1972 after a lengthy illness. Together they had three children. They moved to Starkville in 1967 where he was employed with the Mississippi State University Extension Service and she devoted her time to caring for her children until his death. She then started her career at Armstrong Middle School, first as an English teacher and then starting the first gifted education program in the district. She was a member of First Baptist Church with a love for volunteering in the church nursery. She moved to Columbia in the fall of 2017 to be close to her daughter. She was always ready to share a story about her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed life to the fullest and left a legacy of bringing smiles to her family and friends with many lasting stories.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Joe F. Fuller; second husband, Billy James; her parents, James Franklin Wall and Lovie Cagle Wall, and one sister, Frances Wall Childs.
Survivors include her two sons, Dr. Marty J. Fuller (Lisa) and Greg H. Fuller (Sheri), both of Starkville; one daughter, Rene’ F. Dungan (Jeff) of Columbia; grandchildren, Brad Fuller (Sara), Drew Fuller, Will Fuller, Rachel Fuller Shamoun (James), Forrest Dungan (Abbie) and Parker Dungan and three great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were her grandsons and nephews, Brad Fuller, Drew Fuller, Will Fuller, Forrest Dungan, Parker Dungan, Heath Childs and Todd Childs.
The family would like to thank caregiver Carla Miller of Starkville. While in Columbia for the past several months, she found a new friend in her caregiver, Phylesia Ates.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made to the Mississippi State University Foundation Joe and Totsy Fuller Memorial Scholarship Fund, Palmer Home for Children or a charity of your choice.
You can go online and leave the family a condolence at: www.welchfuneralhomes.com.
