Gladys Faye Hutchins Fortenberry, 79, wife of retired Command Sargent Major Carl R. Fortenberry, died Friday, November 28, 2025 at Life Care Center of Columbia.

Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at Oakes and Nichols Funeral Home with Mike Roberts officiating. Visitation will be held at Oakes and Nichols Funeral Home from 1 P.M. until the time of the service. Burial will be held at a later date at Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Parkway Baptist Building Fund 1500 Tom J Hitch Pkwy, Columbia, TN 38401 or 931-388-4111

Born on March 11, 1946 in Rutherfordton, NC to the late Elbert Hutchins and the late Dixie Conner Hutchins Walker (James). Gladys married the love of her life, Carl Fortenberry, on February 14, 1965 and spent 60 wonderful years together. She was retired from Montgomery County School Systems, spending most of her life as a teacher's aid for several schools. Gladys enjoyed sewing, gardening and teaching. She was a member of Parkway Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband, retired Command Sargent Major Carl R. Fortenberry; sons, Jason (Mary Helen) Fortenberry, Aaron (Jennifer) Fortenberry; sister, Evelyn Jones; grandchildren, Austin Fortenberry, Kaitlin Fortenberry, Blake Fortenberry; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Gladys was preceded in death by her stepfather, James H. Walker; an infant son; brothers-in-law, Jessie Jones, Kenneth Fortenberry, Edward (Sonny) Fortenberry, Lawrence Simpson; and sister-in-law, Nancy F. Rollins.