Los Angeles
County
Biographies
BESSIE
MAE LITTLE
The
life of Bessie Mae Little is one of love and compassion for her fellowmen. Devotion to her family, love for the sick,
the mentally disturbed and the blind, a deep concern for the welfare of youth,
and pride in her community are the motivating forces of her successful
career. More than thirty years ago she
founded the Fortenbery Home, which is now The Little Home at 7424 East Fern
Avenue, South San Gabriel. The Little
Home is a convalescent home with pleasant surroundings, in which women patients
receive family care. Mental hygiene
plays an important part combined with family care in giving help and to
rehabilitate mentally ill patients who are being placed in her home by the
State of California. One blind patient
has been in her care for twenty-one years.
Mrs.
Bessie Mae Little was born in Henderson, Kentucky, on February 18, 1905. She is the only child of George Dennis Pyle
and Virgie (Griffin) Pyle. Her father is
a farmer and in the insurance business.
She attended elementary school in Henderson Kentucky, and later, in 1932
and 1933 attended Southern California Bible College in Pasadena. She worked with Haven of Rest when it was
first started. Before coming to
California Mrs. Little was in the grocery and restaurant business in
Evansville, Indiana.
She
married Mr. Charles B. Fortenbery on September 10, 1925, in Newberg,
Indiana. They arrived in Alhambra on
July 26, 1929. Mr. Fortenbery worked for
the Alhambra Parks Commission for many years.
He held various jobs, and worked for fifteen years for Aerojet-General. In
1930 she started the Fortenbery Home, a family care home in Alhambra. Then they moved to 532 Las Tunas Drive in San
Gabriel. The home is now The Little Home
at 7425 East Fern Avenue in South San Gabriel.
Mrs. Little holds State License No. 34.
She
married Mr. Edwin Grady Little on January 23, 1946, in the state of
Washington. Their four children
are: Virginia Maude Fortenbery, now Mrs.
Baker G. Henry of San Gabriel. Mr. and
Mrs. Henry have six children, who attended Alhambra and Garvey Schools. Peachie Edna Meyers
Fortenbery was born in Alhambra. She is now Mrs. George Thrapp,
and lives with her husband and four children in Anaheim. George Grady Little, a Major in the Junior
Marines of America, was born in South San Gabriel. He is 14 years old, and attends Mark Keppel
High School in Alhambra. Lilly Lynne Little is 13 years old and attends Richard Garvey School in
South San Gabriel.
Besides
her own four children, Mrs. Little raised two stepchildren. Kohlin Dweese Fortenbery, a graduate of
Alhambra High School was killed in action in Normandy during World War II. Roy Calvin Fortenbery, the father of one son,
Ronnie, lives in South San Gabriel. But
raising six children still was not enough for Mrs. Little. She had so much love and affection to five,
and also raised ten foster children.
Mrs. Little has 26 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, and she is
proud of every one of them. Her
granddaughter, pretty Peachie Kohline
Henry was queen of South San Gabriel in 1959.
Mrs.
Little has been a member of Bethany Church of Alhambra since 1932, and for many
years she sang in the church choir. She
was President of Monterey Vista Elementary Parent Teachers Association in 1956
and 1957. She has been active in Garvey
Parent Teachers Association Council for 25 years, and holds a Life
membership. She belongs to the Mark
Keppel Band Boosters and Mark Keppel Parent Teachers Association. Mrs. Little is a charter member of the
Alhambra Del Venner Club, of the Dan T. Williams
Parent Teachers Association and of the Hillcrest Parent Teachers
Association. She is a member of the
Garvey Youth Association, the All American Drum and Bugle Corps and Band
Association. In 1959 and 1960 she
received the Hey Day Award for outstanding service from the South San Gabriel
Chamber of Commerce, and she is still active on their Fair Exhibits. Mrs. Little is a director of the South San
Gabriel Chamber of Commerce, and Counselor of the Junior Marines of America, a
drill team, which has just won their 122nd trophy.
Mrs.
Little’s life has been one of continuous service to her family, to her friends,
and all through life she has practiced “Live thy neighbor as thyself.” In 1957 Mr. and Mrs. Little were voted Ma and
Pa of South San Gabriel as a token of the affection of all who know them.
Mrs.
Little is very clever and talented in making floral decorations, and considers
this one of her hobbies. Close to her heart
are the activities of the Junior Marines of America.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 576-579, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPHIES