Psalm 23 (New International Version)

Pine Log, Georgia was a beautiful place to raise a  family.  Joe and Lulie Burton lived there when they were blessed on March  15, 1932, with the birth of their second daughter, Jeanette.  She, along  with her sister, Dena, and her younger brother, Acey, grew up there among an extended family group and had fond memories of those days when most supplies were still purchased from a "rolling store."  Jeanette attended Bartow  County schools and ended her formal education after the ninth grade.
    
Jeanette met Charles Fortenberry on a Halloween  night and the two married on July 31, 1948.  Their family grew to include  four children, Ron, Bill, Pam and Kim.  Kennesaw became their home in 1957,  and it was there that they remained.
    
Early years were especially difficult for  Jeanette, who spent long hours ironing shirts for a nickel each to  help make ends meet.  In addition to sewing clothes for her children,  Jeanette also made extra money sewing for others.  Her work was  exquisite.
    
It was in 1964 when Jeanette first began working  part-time at Sears.  At that time, women's work dress code allowed them to wear black, brown or blue dresses. Eventually, Jeanette went to work full time  and retired from Sears in 1993.
    
Jeanette loved to cook and it showed.  A  tradition at the Fortenberry house was a big Sunday lunch.  After church,  the children gathered on Shirley Drive for a big lunch and always a homemade  dessert.  She loved her family and worked tirelessly to give them  everything that they needed.  Grandmother to five boys, Jeanette loved  spending time with all of them, and they with her.   She took special pride  in being an integral part of each of their lives.
    
After her retirement from Sears, Jeanette began  doing arts and crafts.  Family members and friends were often surprised with gifts of her cross-stitch creations.  She also added crocheting to her  growing list of hobbies; a craft her own mother had enjoyed.  Swimming was an activity that Jeanette learned in her retirement years.  After becoming  involved with water aerobics classes at Health Place and enjoying them so much, she took up swimming lessons, to the delight of her family; especially her  grandsons.
    
Perhaps next to her family, Jeanette's two  favorite loves were her friends and traveling.  She often went on trips  with friends via Leisure Time Travel Tours, and also enjoyed the group of Happy  Voyagers at church.  She loved to laugh and enjoy life.  In 2002,  Jeanette and several others went on a trip to make Jeanette's dream come true.  When  Jeanette visited Oregon, it was her 50th state. This made her list of travel destinations in the U.S. complete.  She had been to all 50 of the United States as well as several  other countries!
    
Diagnosed with colon cancer in 2004 and undergoing  chemotherapy slowed Jeanette's activities somewhat.  However, she still  made sure she donated to victims of the Tsunami disaster and she also assisted a  group at KUMC that helped battered women.
    
Jeanette Fortenberry was a caring and courageous  woman.  She always put the needs of others before her own and was quick to  share her faith.  When faced with the reality of her imminent death, she  spoke often of her excitement to get to heaven and see her husband and parents  again.  God gifted Jeanette with great faith and incredible strength and  courage.  She loved her family and friends, and they loved her.  They took care  of each other.  Always thankful for every blessing from God, Jeanette chose  every day to make the most out of what God had given to her.  She prayed continually and left to all of those  who knew and loved her, a legacy of love, hope, faith and courage.