Ulla Dee Graves Fortner went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 31, 2025.

Although her date of birth and the spelling of her name have been in question over the years, Ulla Dee or Eula Dee came into this world in the Spring of 1939 on April 9th or April 19th in the town of Laurel, Mississippi. She was born to the late Veolar Graves and Amos Moffett, both of SoSo, MS, and raised primarily by her grandmother, the late Ancie Bell Graves Musgrove. Although her mother’s only child, she had nine (9) siblings on her father’s side.

Ulla Dee attended school at Shady Oaks School. She moved to Hattiesburg, MS as a young adult and lived with her Uncle, Lester Moffett. She worked as a domestic engineer for several prominent Hattiesburg families until the early 1980’s. She was a God-fearing, hard-working woman with many skills and hobbies that included gardening, sewing, cooking and praising the Lord.

After moving to Hattiesburg, Ulla Dee met and married James Edward Fortner, on July 25, 1960, however; their anniversary was celebrated throughout the years on September 16th. To this union was born six children. She and James raised a strong family. They were stalwart church members and were originally part of Greater Mount Bethel, but later transitioned their membership to the Hattiesburg Crusade for Christ Deliverance Baptist Church.

In 1982, Ulla Dee experienced a life-threatening and debilitating aneurism. Her survival is a testament to her strength of spirit and close relationship with the Lord, and she and James were able to successfully rebuild their lives after this event. She was well-loved by her large and extensive family and group of friends.

Ulla Dee was preceded in death by her parents, Veolar Graves and Amos Moffett, her loving husband, Deacon James Fortner; siblings, Josephine Turner, Junior Ray Moffett, Leon Moffett, Charlene Brown, and Ardell Rogers; one daughter, VieAnna Marie Fortner-Brown, one son, Myron Deshawn Fortner, two grandsons, Jameson Andre Brown and Marlon Renaldo Watts, Jr., and one son-in-law, Otis Johnson.

She leaves on this earth to cherish decades of memories, four siblings; Willie Ray Moffett, SoSo, MS, Charles Moffett, Joliet, IL, Dorthy Jean Moffett, Laurel, MS, and Willie Faye Haward, SoSo, MS; her children; Rosie M. Johnson, Hattiesburg, MS, James R. Fortner (Karen), Grenada, MS, John E. Fortner (Durnita), Hattiesburg, MS, Sabrina R. Thrasher (Kenneth), Hattiesburg, MS, and son-in-law, Johnny Gwinn Brown, Hattiesburg, MS; sixteen (16) grandchildren; Terah, Nett, Monique, Pooky, Minnie Maul, Rod, Beasy, Cory, BJ, Rico, Nikki, Justin, Tasha, Kim, Cedell, and Cyreena; twenty-four (25) great-grandchildren, Ambria, Jasming, Dameyan, Shandrea, Ja’Monyai, Dareyan, Armon, Arond’a, Tandreya, Amilleion, Tyrell, Ariel, Kierstin, Thyago, Makayla, JordynJourney, Andre, Jr., Ja’von, Ja’son, Adeline Rose, Kensington, Hayes, Layla Michelle, and Christopher Jameson; honorary great granddaughters, Medora and Brianna; and a host of great- great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and family friends.