Jessie Pearl Fortune, Age 91 of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, went to be with her Lord on 06/17/2026.

She was born in Montgomery, Alabama on 08/23/1934 to Jessie Cumbie and Lola Cumbie. She married Ralph Thomas Fortune, Sr. whom she loved and adored for 70 years.

The first thing that she would want in her biography would be to tell all of her family and loved ones to trust the lord and follow his will. Mom dedicated her life to serving God and caring for her family, spending each day praying for her family’s wellbeing and then calling each of us almost daily to check and see if everyone was okay.

She grew up in Milton, Florida and spent many summers in the Winter haven and Lake Whales areas with her siblings helping take care of her many nieces and nephews before eventually meeting our father and agreeing to marry him. I remember the story of him beginning his career with Centel Telephone Company because she said he had to have a stable career to care for the family to come before she would agree to marry him.

Dad said their deal was he’d take care of making money and she’d make sure the children were raised the right way in a loving home and manage the money. Dad used to joke that if you pulled a quarter out of her hand, she still had the eagle’s tail feathers in between her fingers because that’s how closely she watched every penny, never to waste money.

Mom and Dad made it a point to pass on stories of family and the times spent together for us to remember how important family was.

Family: Jessie Fortune is survived by her Son Ralph Thomas Fortune, Jr., Kathy Rooks (Husband Phillip Rooks), Vicki Fortune and Christopher Fortune (Christine Fortune). Grand Children Jeremy Fortune, Joseph Fortune, Jessi Rooks, Kelley Fortune, Brittany Fortune, Skyler Rooks, Jessica Teabout, Dylan Ivers , Geoffrey Ivers and Great Grand Children Justin Fortune, Ethan Fortune, Tatiana Fortune, Cameron Fortune, Easton Fortune, Cadence Ruskowski, Kimber Ruskowski, Ryder Rooks, Olivia Rooks, Valhala Fortune, Evie Fortune. Her sister Kate Money, her sister Bobbie Winchester and Brother Don Cumbie (Barbra Cumbie) and sister-in-law Naomi Hershberger. Along with numerous nephews and nieces whom she loved dearly.

She was preceded in death by daughter Lydia Lola Fortune, Grandson Brandon Fortune, her parent’s Jessie Cumbie and Lola Cumbie, Sisters Fayoma Pritz, Nettie Ruth Watson, Eloise Caraway along with many close members of her family both by blood and marriage.

Service Information: The Service will be held 11 am on 06/24/2026, visitation starting at 10am and the family arriving at 9:30am at the Emerald Coast Church, 117 Jonquil Ave NW, Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548. Flowers can be delivered to the church starting at 8:30am.