Obituary of Albert Fisher

It is with great joy and profound sadness that we celebrate the life and mourn the loss of Albert Fleet Fisher who died peacefully on February 3, 2017, in the company of loved ones. Born to the late Albert Ashton Fisher and Bessie Lee Smith Fisher on January 3, 1929, in Garland, North Carolina, he was raised in Fairmont, which he called home. An avid Duke fan whose blood ran dark blue, Al Fisher earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1951 and a Bachelor of Divinity Degree in 1954, both from Duke University. In 1987 he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from North Carolina Wesleyan College. Al was an ordained member of the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church (ordained Deacon in 1954, ordained Elder in 1956). He began his lifelong service to the church in 1953 as the Associate Pastor of the Mebane United Methodist Church. It was here that he met and married the true love of his life, Rebecca Smith. He was the devoted husband and life companion to Becky for over 62 years, and the love they shared served as an inspiration to many. After Mebane, Al served as the Minister of Saxapahaw United Methodist Church (1954-65), Franklinton United Methodist Church (1956-59), Highland United Methodist Church in Raleigh (1959-64), and Centenary United Methodist Church in New Bern (1964-69). In 1969, Al was appointed Superintendent of the Goldsboro District of the United Methodist Church. In 1974, he and Becky moved to Durham, North Carolina where Al went to work for the Duke Endowment. He served as the Director of the Rural Church Division of the Duke Endowment from 1977 until his retirement in 1996. Concurrently, he was an Adjunct Professor of Parish Work at the Duke Divinity School (1977-1996). Al's dedication to the ministry was almost equaled by his love of sports. From being the point guard and quarterback on his high school basketball and football teams, to being a Duke cheerleader, to closely following the Blue Devils from the confines of Cameron Indoor Stadium for over 40 years, Al lived both the jubilant and agonizing moments of the sports world with equal passion. Service to community was also an important aspect of Al's life. A few of his many leadership roles included: Trustee, Louisburg College; Trustee, Methodist Home for Children; Trustee, Methodist Retirement Home (Treasurer 1991-1996); Board of Visitors, Duke Divinity School; Board of Directors, Branch Banking & Trust Company (Chairman 1992-95); Board of Directors, NC Mental Health Association (President 1981-82); Board of Directors, Interfaith Forum of Religion, Arts, and Architecture (President 1992-1996); Board of Directors, Duke University General Alumni Association (President 1981); and Chairman, Bishops' Call for Peace and the Self-Development of Peoples Task Force (1972-76). After Al and Becky moved to Galloway Ridge in 2005, he served as a member of the Residents Council, served on various committees, and was one of the original members of the Ambassadors of Galloway Ridge. Among his many honors, Al was especially proud of being named "Tar Heel of the Week" in 1981 for his work in the mental health field. He was also the recipient of the Elbert M. Conover Memorial Award in 1998 (from the Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art & Architecture), being the first person to receive the award who was not an architect. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Smith Fisher (Becky); his son, Albert Ashton Fisher (Bert) and his wife, Leto Copeley; his son, Anthony Fleet Fisher (Tony) and his wife, Linda Fisher; his daughter, Laura Fisher Morgan; his son-in-law, Jack Morgan; his grandsons, Andy Fisher and Fleet Morgan; his granddaughter, Laura Fisher; a younger brother, Bob Fisher and his wife, Sally; a younger sister, Dixie Lee Hull, and her husband, Don; and several nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. In addition to his parents, Reverend Fisher was predeceased by a younger brother, Al Ashton Fisher. Memorial gifts may be made to Community Partnerships, Inc. (3522 Haworth Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609), the Albert F. and Rebecca S. Fisher Scholarship Fund at the Duke Divinity School, or the Galloway Ridge Employee Appreciation Fund (3000 Galloway Ridge, Pittsboro, NC 27312). A memorial service will be held at 2:00pm on Thursday, February 9, 2017, at the Chapin Auditorium at the Galloway Ridge Retirement Community at Fearrington Village (3000 Galloway Ridge, Pittsboro, North Carolina). A reception will follow. Walker's Funeral Home of Chapel Hill is honored to serve the Fisher family. Online condolences may be offered at www.walkersfuneralservice.com.