Willie Fulton

The Life and Legacy of Willie Fulton

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me at that day: and not to me only, but also to all who have longed for
his appearing.  II Timothy 4:7-8

This story began on June 22, 1955, in Cleveland, Mississippi, when Willie Fulton made his earthly debut. Willie was also lovingly known as ‘Boleg’, ‘Bo’, ‘Coach’, ‘Puck Wood’, ‘Grasshopper’, or simply ‘Fulton’. He was the son of Cora (Big Mama) and Homer Fulton. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Robert Stewart, Sr. and Harlan Fulton; sister, Earlean Fulton; sister-in-law, Mattie Stewart; brother-in-law, Larry Flakes; father-in-law, George White; grandson, Avan Darnell Steele; and five special nephews: Carlester Franklin, Dewayne Russell, Derrick Fulton, Sylvester Franklin, and Demetric ‘Jap’ Fulton, Sr.

Willie attended elementary and high school in Cleveland, Mississippi. He was a proud graduate of East Side High School’s astounding Class of 1974! Willie fostered a legacy of excellence in education for his children and future generations to model. His mantra was: never stop learning, evolving, and believing. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU), a Master of Business Administration in Accounting from Delta State University, and a Master of Science in Education Supervision from Alcorn State University. In 1996, Willie became a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Arkansas, a notable accomplishment and a check off of his professional bucket list.

While in college at MVSU, he became increasingly fond of Accounting, endearing friends, and football. He proudly wore the number 23 jersey and played the position of strong safety. Record has it that Fulton was one of the best defensive backs in the nation exhibiting all-around elite skills that attracted the NFL’s Oakland Raiders, whose pro-evaluation suggested that his style of play fit with their defensive strategies. In 2019, Willie was inducted into Mississippi Valley State University’s Athletic Hall of Fame. It was at ‘the Valley’ where friendships were sparked, lasting throughout his adulthood.

Willie’s career path was extensive spanning a 30+ year period. His professional career began as a collegiate football coach and Accounting instructor at MVSU. In 1987, he joined the coaching staff at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) under the leadership of the late Archie ‘Gunslinger’ Cooley. He also taught Accounting and other business related courses as an Assistant Professor. Fulton was also employed by the City of Little Rock’s Parks and Recreation division and briefly at Shorter College in Little Rock, Arkansas before returning to his true passion, coaching! He subsequently joined the coaching staff at Alcorn State University before returning to UAPB’s coaching staff. Willie finally turned in the coaching whistle after 23 years (symbolic of his college jersey) and took a different but familiar path. On the administrative side, he served as Interim Athletic Director and held the role of Business Manager at UAPB during his final tenure in higher education.

Willie later became a licensed realtor in the State of Arkansas in 2010 and was an agent with Bessie Beavers/Century 21 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. From 2013 to 2018, he was an associate broker for Remax Solutions, also in Pine Bluff. In 2018, he became the principal broker of his own company, Pine Bluff Realty Group, LLC. In April 2018, Willie became a licensed realtor in the State of Tennessee and ultimately was a realtor with Keller Williams in Memphis, Tennessee for a short stint before progressive medical complications ensued. Willie was a member of several professional affiliations and business organizations throughout his career.
Willie was a multi-faceted person and a dreamer. He thoroughly enjoyed cooking, gardening, building/constructing, drawing/sketching, football, physical fitness, and spending quality time with his family. He loved hosting, reunions, and family gatherings whether intimate or grand. Fulton was very analytical and a forward thinker on many levels.

With an entrepreneurial spirit, he was the owner of a restaurant, Coo Coo Willies, for a brief period in the 1990s. Willie also was the owner of Fulton and Associates’ Tax and Business Services and most recently, African Yewande Fashion. Quietly kept, he was a creative genius always seeking to invent gadgets and products, a few of which he submitted for patents.

He will forever be cherished and remembered by his loving and devoted wife of 36 years, Erica; daughters: Chandra Denise, Jamilia Ife, and Tia-Elizabeth Cymone; sons: Willie Amari and Eric D’Mone; granddaughters: Arylan Denise and Devynn Elizabeth; great granddaughter: Alayah Malan; brothers: Eddie Fulton of Cleveland, Mississippi, Homer Fulton, Jr. (Shelia) of Memphis, Tennessee, Michael Fulton (Gwendolyn) of Chicago, Illinois, Kelvin, Carl, and Cedric (Patty) Fulton, all of Jackson, Mississippi; sisters: Rosemary Collins (Jerry) of Olive Branch, Mississippi, Delorise Franklin (Sylvester) of Cleveland, Mississippi, Margaret Flakes of Horn Lake, Mississippi, Joyce Russell of Cleveland, Mississippi, Joyce Hanner (Willie) of Alexandria, Virginia, and Doris Horton (Calvin) of Conyers, Georgia; and numerous special cousins, nieces, nephews, and a host of other beloved relatives and friends.

Now, metaphorically...turn the page, close the book; Boleg’s story is over on this side, but his love, legacy, and spirit will forever remain with us.