Dr. Alvenia Fulton 92, Famed Nutritionist, Dies In Chicago

Jet, March 22, 1999

Services were scheduled at JET press time for nationally-acclaimed nutritionist Dr. Alvenia Fulton who died in Chicago at Holy Cross Hospital. She was 92.

Known as the "Queen of Nutrition," she taught comedian-human rights activist Dick Gregory how to fast and diet in the 1960s. She and Gregory also collaborated on the book, Vegetarianism: Fact or Myth?

Born in Middle, TN, she was exposed to natural foods, herbs and cures of nature through the teachings of her father and mother, Richard and Mahala Moody.

The trailblazing nutritionist went on to become the first Black to open a health food store and a vegetarian restaurant in the Black community in the U.S. in the late 1950s.

She worked in her historic Chicago store, Fultonia Health and Fasting Institute, until she recently became ill, according to her nephew, Robin Brown, the chief of staff to Chicago Alderman Dorothy Tillman.

"She taught us that our health is determined by the foods we eat and the liquids we drink," said Brown. He added, "She was the first anywhere to recommend fasting as a means of cleansing the body and allowing the body to cleanse and to heal itself. She called it therapeutic healing."

Dr. Fulton is the author of two books, The Fasting Primer and The Nutrition Bible.

She earned an N.D. and Ph.D. from Lincoln College of Naturopathy and Natural Medicines in Indianapolis.

She also was the first woman to enter and graduate from Greater Payne Theological Seminary in Birmingham, AL, and went on to become a pastor of several churches, including St. Johns AM.E. in Louisville, KY, St. Stephens A.M.E. in Birmingham and St. Johns A.M.E. in Manhattan, KS.

She is survived by her sister, Esther Moody, and a host of relatives and friends.

Services were scheduled at the Grant Memorial A.M.E. Church in Chicago. Arrangements were made by the Taylor Funeral Home in Chicago. Burial was set at Oak Woods Cemetery also in Chicago.