Rev. Joseph Edward Fulford, Sr.

On Monday, September 7, 2015, Reverend Joseph Edward Fulford (retired) passed away peacefully at his home in Alachua, Florida.  He was born in Bonifay, Florida  March 29, 1927, to Joseph Thomas and Lillie Williams Fulford.  He spent most of his childhood and adolescence in Bonifay.  He left Bonifay at age 17 to enlist in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Upon returning from the war, he operated the family grocery store and married the love of his life, Janople Sanders Fulford.  He is survived by three children:  Bennye Alligood, Peggy Shields and Reverend Eddie Fulford, nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren, three brothers and numerous nieces and nephews.
Early in his marriage, Joe and Jan moved to south Florida, where he worked as a butcher and a prison chaplain until the age of 38 when he received a calling to become a minister.  At the age of 38 he started studying for his GED, earning his high school diploma the same year as his oldest daughter.  As a student pastor, he attended Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida; received a BS in Journalism from the University of Florida and a Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky.   In the course of his ministry, Rev. Fulford pastored at United Methodist Churches in Waldo, Florida; Bowen and  Moreland, Kentucky; Indiantown, Fort Lauderdale, Lake Alfred, Live Oak and Jacksonville, Florida.  Upon his retirement in 1993, he attended the First United Methodist Church of Bonifay, Florida and High Spings, Florida.
A veteran of World War II, an ex-butcher, a retired Methodist Minister and a natural born story teller, he was able to use his degree from Journalism from the University of Florida to share the many interesting and humorous adventures he encountered in his life through his church columns.  Not long after his retirement, his oldest granddaughter encouraged him to compile his columns into a book, “Before Aspirin and Other Things,” published in 2006.  His book is filled with humorous stories with a religious message. He found gratification from seeing moods change and spirits lift.   He loved to bring laughter and a closeness to God.
Funeral services for Rev. Fulford will be held at 2 PM, Saturday, September 12, 2015, at the First United Methodist Church in Bonifay, FL, with Pastor Eddie Fulford officiating.  Interment will follow in the Bonifay Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the music program at the First United Methodist Church of Dunnellon, 21501 W. Hwy 40, Dunnellon, FL  34431.