Mary Ella (Fuqua) Bean

Mrs. Mary Ella Fuqua Bean was born on May 10, 1939, in Colbert County, Alabama, to the late Leo Fuqua, Sr., and Rosa Lee Fuqua. She was the eldest of seven children born to that union.

Mary attended Leighton Training School with the Class of 1959 which she loved dearly. She worked for Helen Keller Hospital where she retired after 25 years. Mary was a devoted member of High Street Church of Christ in Tuscumbia, Alabama. She loved her church family and especially her Ladies’ Bible Class. She loved sharing God’s word with others and studying God’s word. Mary was known by various names, “Dear,” “Ms. Dear,” “Boot,” “Sunshine,” “Mama,” “Grandma,” just to name a few. She loved her entire family and made sure they knew it. She enjoyed cooking, baking, working in her garden, watering her flowers, picking her vegetables and sharing them with others, and exercising, especially walking.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, James Bean; parents, Leo Fuqua, Sr., and Rosa Lee Fuqua; sister, Gloria Bell Fuqua; and brother, Robert Fuqua.

She leaves to cherish her memories: her daughter, Rosie (Eddie) Goodloe of Muscle Shoals, AL; son, Andre Renard Bean of Muscle Shoals, AL; grandchildren, Bradley Goodloe of McCalla, AL, Brandi (Vincent) Holden of Madison, AL, Jasmine Brown of Tuscumbia, AL, and Y’terrial Bean of Florence, AL; great-grandchild, Braylon Goodloe, AKA “Her Sunshine,” of McCalla, AL; two devoted brothers, Leo Fuqua, Jr., of Tuscumbia, AL, and Sammy Trotter of Pasco WA; four devoted sisters, Fannie (Andy) Sledge of Leighton, AL, Flora Fuqua of Leighton, AL, Sarah (George) Underwood of Baldwin Park, CA, and Ida King of Leighton, AL; sister-in-law, Martha Fuqua of Huntsville, AL; best friend/sister, Mrs. Jean Long Graves of Tuscumbia, AL; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and loving friends.

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