Dorothy Jean Fuller

Dorothy Jean (Downing) Fuller passed away on October 14th, 2025 in Macon, Georgia.

Funeral services will be held 2 PM, Saturday, October 18, 2025, at the Church of the Nazarene, in Fitzgerald, Georgia, with the Rev. Steve Hood, the Rev. Emory Corley, and the Rev. Brigitte Corley officiating. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery, in Fitzgerald, Georgia, with the Rev. Gary Mimbs officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:30 until the funeral hour at the church on Saturday.

Dorothy Jean, or DJ as many of her family and friends knew her, was born the youngest of five on January 4th, 1941 to Florence (Swords) and Elmo Quinton Downing, Sr. A lifelong resident of Fitzgerald, she was a 1959 graduate of Fitzgerald High School and went on to graduate from Trevecca Nazarene College with a degree in education/psychology. She taught regular and special education in the Fitzgerald school system, as well as general business at Irwin Academy High School. After spending several years as a stay-at-home mom, including time as a private piano teacher, she became a Certified Professional Secretary and opened her own business – The Secretary – in Fitzgerald. She also spent several years at Samson Industries and then spent the remainder of her working career at Lowell Packing Company as the office administrator.

On June 9th, 1961, Dorothy married her high school sweetheart, Edward "Kyle" Fuller, Jr, and together they served their Lord and their church for over 60 years. She spent many years as a Sunday School teacher and pianist at the Church of the Nazarene, and she also served as the church secretary there. For several years she also served as a Sunday School teacher and pianist at Pine Level United Methodist church. Together with Kyle, she was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award on both the local and district levels of the Church of the Nazarene. Dorothy was an avid reader and gardener, and she was also a mighty prayer warrior. Some of her most fulfilling years were spent later in life in addiction recovery ministry with the Christian Family Center in Soperton, GA. She spent many hours counseling and praying with "her guys", and proudly claimed many of them as "her young-uns".

She is survived by her children Lauren Fuller (Teresa) and Lita Buher (Brad), as well as her grandchildren Matthew Fuller (Natalie), Malaurie McElmurray (Chad), Brady Buher (Kenzie) and Rayna Buher, great-grandchildren Annsley McElmurray, Andrew Fuller, Monroe Fuller, Liam Buher, and numerous nieces and nephews. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Kyle, her parents, as well as all four of her siblings and their spouses – Lowell (Clarice) Downing, EQ (Doris) Downing, Mavis (Elmo) Mobley, and Evelyn (HT) Troup.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Adrian Camp and Conference Center, 37 Meeks Rd, Adrian, GA 31002 or Georgia District Nazarene Missions International, c/o Eunice Hood, 124 Deerrun St, Fitzgerald, GA 31750.

Paulk Funeral Home, Fitzgerald, is in charge of arrangements.