THE REV. DR. ODELL FORTE
Pastor of First Missionary Baptist Church, Lucama
Pastor of First Baptist Church, Eureka, Inc., Eureka
Sunrise, Dec. 26, 1927-Sunset, June 11, 2009
Pastor Odell Forte, 81, of 307 Baker St., Fremont, departed this life Thursday, at Wayne Memorial Hospital.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church Eureka, Inc. The Rev. Fred Presley will preside, and the Rev. Jeffery Simms will deliver the Eulogy. Burial will follow in the Forte Cemetery in Eureka. The body will be viewed at Hamilton Funeral Chapel, 423 S. James St., on Monday from 3 until 5 p.m. and a wake will be held at First Missionary Baptist Church, Lucama, from 7 until 9 p.m.
The Rev. Forte was born to the late John Henry and Rosa Mae Forte. He was a devoted husband to Minnie Hill Forte, who preceded him in death July 24, 2001. Pastor Forte had one brother, Johnny Chester Forte, and one sister, Della Crawford, who also preceded him in death.
Dr. Forte is survived by nine children, Amy Forte and Emily Forte, of the home; Apostle Elijah Forte (Cora) of Wilson, Evangelist Retha Hooper of Pikeville, James Forte (the late Cathy) of Pikeville, Betty Spencer (Pal) of Pikeville, John Forte (Tonya) of Henderson, Ky., Preston Forte of Pikeville, and Teresa Howell of Greenville, S.C. Also remaining to cherish his memories are four brothers, Lee Henderson of Los Angeles, Calif., Robert (Gloria) of Newark, N.J., Joseph (Frances) of Washington, D.C., and Christopher (Doris) of Flowering Mounds, Texas. He was blessed with 22 grandchildren, Ashley Forte of the home, Gerad, Jondre, Latrice, Terrance, LaWanda, Abraham, Ivory, Andre, Tammy, LJ, TJ, Tierra, Tiffany, Tamra, J-Myk, Shante', Mookie, Kendrick, Racen, Julian, and Willie; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Dr. Forte leaves nine brothers- and sisters-in-law, Ida, Alberta (Tom), Queen, Ruth (Alex), Theadie (Crystal), Cleveland (Shirley), James (Barbara) Lucille, Veronica (Donahue), three goddaughters, Connie Dickerson, Sheila Lee, Tonya Artis; and a host of other nieces, nephews, other relatives, church families and friends, including a special cousin, Pecolia Millard.
Cards, love-grams and condolences may be faxed to Hamilton Funeral Chapel, (919) 735-4725, or e-mailed to hamiltonfc@bellsouth.net.
Flowers may be sent to Hamilton Funeral Chapel, 423 S. James St., Goldsboro, NC.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on June 14, 2009 9:12 AM