Dora Maxine Compton Fuller

Dora Maxine Compton Fuller (96), a resident of Brierfield, Alabama, died on October 30, 2017, at Brookwood Hospital after a brief illness. A celebration of her life will be held at Bessemer Brown Service in Bessemer, Alabama, on Sunday, November 5, 2017. Visitation for friends will be from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. with a celebration of life beginning at 2:00 p.m. Interment will be at Elmwood Cemetery immediately following the service. Reverend Kenneth Fuller will officiate. Mr. Kenneth Boyd will provide the music. Pallbearers will be Thompson Fuller, Joseph Fuller, Galen Brunson, Austin Brunson, Jonathan Brodeur, Joshua Miller, Matthew Machen, Christopher Miller, and Mark Machen. Born in Tiny, Virginia, to Perry and Lillie Compton and her big brother Clair, Maxine grew up in a remote Appalachian Mountain community where most families had no running water or electricity. The hardiness such living required bred in Maxine a strong and resilient spirit. Her first seven years of education were in the Sulphur Springs one-room school house. Later, she attended Haysi High School where she graduated in 1938 at the age of 16. After working 1 year for Clincho Mining Corporation, she furthered her education at West Virginia Business College, graduating in 1939. Maxine continued her college career by attending the State Teachers College (Longwood University) in Farmville, Virginia, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Education in 1943. Following graduation, Goodyear Tire Company offered her a position as an office manager in Pensacola, Florida. So Maxine boarded a Pullman train car, and left her mountain community. Goodyear transferred Maxine to Montgomery, Selma, and finally to Bessemer, Alabama, where she met her future husband, David Thompson Fuller, Jr. They married and resided in Hueytown, Alabama, where they owned and operated a grocery store, Fuller’s Service Station, a construction company, and Fuller's Trucking Company. During these years their family grew with the addition of five children. It was a lively household, and Maxine was a faithful and wonderful wife and mother. She frequently stayed up late at night, designing and making clothes or dance outfits for her daughters. After her youngest child entered school, Maxine renewed her teaching certificate, earned her Masters Degree from the University of Alabama in 1966 and a AA degree from UAB. Maxine taught business courses at Manpower, McAdory High School, and Hueytown High School. She was Business Education Coordinator at Hueytown High School and was responsible for job placement and monitoring her students. She retired from Hueytown High School in 1988. Maxine was a member of AEA, AERA, ECERA, Delta Kappa Gamma, WMU, the Hueytown Culture Club, Echo Study Club, Eastern Star, and Young at Heart Group. She held leadership positions in many of these organizations. She also was listed in Marquis' Who’s Who in American Women, Who’s Who in American Education, Who’s Who in the World, and Who’s Who in the South and Southwest. Having purchased a farm in Brierfield in 1979, Maxine moved there in 1999. Three passions continued throughout her life: reading the Bible, cooking, and quilting. She read the entire Bible many times and studied the scriptures daily. An excellent cook, she published a family cookbook and enjoyed making new recipes until the very end of her life. She completed 54 hand-stitched quilts with the help of her quilting circle, one quilt for every child, grandchild, great-grandchild, great-great-grandchild and a few for extended family. She also liked visiting with family and friends, fishing, and traveling. She took several cruises and bus tours with family and friends, seeing many parts of our country. In 2011 for her ninetieth birthday, she traveled to the Panama Canal with her children and other family. A faithful member of Pleasant Ridge Church in Hueytown from 1949 until 1999, Maxine moved her membership to Centreville Baptist Church when she moved to Brierfield. She also enjoyed attending Harmony Baptist Church and Producing Faith Ministries when visiting her daughters. Maxine is preceded in death by her husband, David Thompson Fuller, Jr.; her parents, Lillie and Perry Compton; her brother, E.C. Compton. She is survived by daughters Davine Fuller Miller (Randy), Patricia Fuller Machen (Frank), Shirley Fuller Allen (Robert), and Dorothy Fuller Brunson (Richard), and one son, David Thompson Fuller, III, (Miriam). She is also survived by 15 grandchildren: Christopher Miller (Tracy), Joshua Miller (Satthanha), Mark Machen (Jennifer), Shawn Machen (Andrea), Matthew Machen (Stephanie), Joy Machen Trapani (Abraham), Jonathan Brodeur (Melinda), Kristin Brodeur Mohon (David), Kara Brodeur Phillips (David), Austin Brunson, Galen Brunson, Elizabeth Fuller, Katherine Fuller, Joseph Fuller, Thompson Fuller (Ashley). In addition, 2 step grandchildren survive her: Mike Allen (Lisa Myers) and Bridgett Allen Hendry (Bobby). She also leaves behind 16 great-grandchildren, 8 step great-grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild. Maxine left a legacy of love for God, family, friends, and country. She said, "I've lived a good life." Proverbs 31: 10,29 describes Maxine: “Who can find a virtuous woman? Her price is far above rubies....Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.” Memorial gifts in memory of Maxine may be given to the following: Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, "Reach for Tomorrow" Campaign, 1343 Hueytown Road, Hueytown, AL 35023 or Centreville Baptist Church, General Fund, 138 Court Square, Centreville, AL 35042.

Dora Maxine Compton Fuller

August 23, 1921 - October 30, 2017