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Obituary – Edward Allen Fulton
Tuesday, September 11, 2018


Mr. Edward “Allen” Fulton died peacefully at home following a year-long battle with brain cancer Jan. 31, 2018 at the age of 74.

Allen was born on Aug. 22, 1943 in Alabaster, Alabama to John Fulton and Frances (McDaniel) Fulton, the youngest of five children. He graduated from Thompson High School in 1961 and earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Alabama College in Monticello in 1965.

Allen taught for one year at Handley High School in Roanoke, Alabama before returning to Shelby County as a government and economics teacher at his alma mater, Thompson High School. He obtained his master’s degree in administration and supervision from the University of Alabama, was promoted to assistant principal then became principal of Thompson High School in 1971.

Though his accomplishments as principal were many, he was most gratified by his involvement in creating the DAY Program, which serves at risk adolescents and their families and has been used as a model for education in other communities. 

Allen left Thompson High School in 1985 and moved into the central office of the Shelby County Board of Education where he served the students and families of Shelby County in positions of increasing responsibility until he retired as Assistant Superintendent of Operations in 2000. 

In this second phase of his career, his talent for construction was realized, and following his retirement he began a second career with Lathan Associates Architects, where he worked until the end of 2016. He was involved in some manner with virtually all of the school construction and renovation during Shelby County’s population boom beginning in the early1990s up to today. 

Allen was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church of Alabaster and was ordained to the Church Session in 2016. He was an avid rider of Tennessee Walking Horses for five decades, a lover of music, and an excellent dancer. He is remembered by friends, family and thousands of former students for his brilliant smile, his generous nature, his sage advice, and an unwavering ability to see potential in everyone.

Allen is survived by his wife Betty (Johnston) Fulton to whom he was married for 41 years, daughter Andrea (Fulton) Sligh and son-in-law Scott Sligh of Fairhope, Alabama, grandchildren Sarah Kate and Nathan, stepdaughter Rhonda Cubbedge of Harahan, Louisiana, sister Mary Russell Brooks of Birmingham, Alabama, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents John Fulton and Frances (McDaniel) Fulton and three brothers Bob Lawley, Bill Lawley, and Jim Mack Lawley.

A Celebration of Life was held Feb. 3, 2018 at First Presbyterian Church of Alabaster. In lieu of flowers, it was requested that donations be made to The Day Program at 117 Plaza Circle, Alabaster, AL, 35007 or to First Presbyterian Church of Alabaster at P.O. Box 650, Alabaster, AL 35007. 

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