Freddie Leroy Fornea, Sr.

Freddie Leroy Fornea, Sr. passed away Sunday, February 4, 2024 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

He was born August 18, 1950 in New Orleans, LA to Johnnie Willis Fornea, Varnado, LA and Ada Mae Owens Jenkins, Franklinton, LA. Freddie grew up in Varnado, LA, and was drafted into the United States Army in June 1970 then was deployed to Vietnam in December that same year. While there he served in the 101^st Airborne Division and 25^th Infantry Division. He returned from Vietnam in December 1971. His last deployment was to Iraq where he served from December 1990 to April 1991 then retired with 21 years of service on September 1991.   After his military career, Freddie trained to be a pipefitter and worked at Halter Marine and then Gulf Ship until he retired in March 2011. 

Freddie was a great husband, father and grandfather who loved spending time with his family.  He was a jokester who never lost his sense of humor even through the dark days. He was a long-time member of the Mosaic Church in Ocean Springs and was an avid outdoorsman who loved spending time in his later years with his friends at Bluff Creek Hunting Club.  He told anyone who asked that the hunting club was his happy place. 

Freddie was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Lloyd Fornea (Gloria), J. W. Fornea (Elaine), Terry Fornea (Irene); and sister, Shirley Ikerd (Mickey).

He is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Gayla Taylor Fornea; children, Freddie Fornea, Jr (Jessica), Vancleave, MS and DeAnna Jackson, Ocean Springs, MS; 5 grandchildren, Hope Marshall, Shayla Fornea, Tyler Jackson, Savannah Jackson, and Olivia Jackson; sister, Bobbie (David) Cothern of Jayess, MS; brother, Eugene Fornea of Columbia, MS; and numerous nieces and nephews

A funeral service will be held at 1:30 pm on Thursday, February 8, 2024 at Mosaic Church in Ocean Springs. Friends are welcome to visit beginning at 12:30 pm. Interment will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Wounded Warrior Project by going to website (https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjtn-eZwpWEAxU2NtQBHYcFB8EYABACGgJvYQ&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESVeD2A8YqmGhccKth4LrMWjN_6oIWaS5jHj2sBf1DYoV42c1c9TY8cRC6nYwva-DtA3VuPVzr66R2I_gMDKMJdu_3FOsaQoMUwUJieyNQCuKxiEjkEPU&sig=AOD64_1r0LtQuChvKxbV9Fpva2OqbLsLxg&q&adurl&ved=2ahUKEwjJ-t6ZwpWEAxXPl2oFHSF3CDAQ0Qx6BAgGEAE) support.woundedwarriorproject.org.”

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Freddie Leroy Fornea, Sr.