Willodean “Dean” Rushing Fields

Published 1:16 am Thursday, October 21, 2010

Dean Rushing Fields, age 76, died Tuesday, October 19, 2010, at her home in Selma. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, officiated by Father Carroll Plourde and Father William Fields, O.P. and directed by Lawrence Brown Funeral Home.

Born in Verbena, Alabama, Mrs. Fields moved to Selma in 1965. During her long career in public health administration with the State of Alabama, Mrs. Fields was also the director of the Dallas County Health Department. After graduating from the University of Alabama at the age of 60 and retiring, Mrs. Fields continued her active civic and volunteer work in numerous organizations and charities including the Pilot Club, Emblem Club, Selma Public Library, Queen of Peace Women’s Auxiliary, Christian Outreach Food Pantry, Cedar Hill Assisted Living Center, and Mental Health Board. A talented artist, quilter, and Master Gardener, Mrs. Fields was also a member of the Selma Art Guild, a local prayer shawl ministry, crochet group, and ceramics club.

Her husband, Richard Patrick Fields; her parents, Ocie and Ethel Rushing of Prattville; and her brother. Robert Rushing preceded Mrs. Fields in death. She is survived by her children Patti (Louis) McMilion, John (Cristy) Fields and Margie (Richard) Holland; her sisters Dottie Botts and Melba Lentz and brother Carl Rushing; and eight grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Jason Botts, Lee Peake, and her four grandsons: Patrick Fields, Jacob Fields, Nicholas Fields, and Peter McMilion. The graveside service will be held at 3:00 pm in Montgomery in the St. Margaret’s section of Oakwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).

Please visit http://www.lawrencebrownservice.com to make online condolences to the family.