Throughout her life, June L. Fletcher built a legacy that extended far beyond dollars and donations. “Whatever she did, she gave it 150 percent,” said Carol Dynesius of her sister, who passed away on Jan. 30, 2025.
Through the June L. Fletcher Legacy Fund, Fletcher established a way to continue giving back to the Birmingham area for years to come.
Before she retired in June 2005, Fletcher was chief executive officer for the Red Cross of Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Region for Blood Services. Previously in San Jose, California, she served as regional director of Laboratory Services for the Red Cross and as transfusion service consultant for the Santa Clara Medical Center. During her career, she helped with groundbreaking research on organ transplants, AIDS screening, and more. Her work also took her to Puerto Rico and Russia.
Fletcher was a proud member of the American Association of Blood Bankers (AABB).
“I know she was highly respected for her membership and her contributions to that organization,” Dynesius said.
Fletcher’s professional achievements only scratch the surface of all she did for the communities she called home, especially Greater Birmingham.
She volunteered as a docent at the Birmingham Zoo, teaching school children in handling small ambassador animals, and appeared on the local news regularly to promote dog adoption. She also trained new Zoo volunteers and launched a grant program that allows staff to travel to conservation projects around the world.
Fletcher also devoted countless hours volunteering at the McWane Science Center to help with categorizing artifacts.
Fletcher was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tenn., but lived in the Birmingham area for more than 30 years.
“Birmingham has been good to me,” Fletcher once said.
With a focus on the arts, public green space, wildlife, water, nature conservation efforts, protection and care of pets and animals, the June L. Fletcher Legacy Fund will make distributions to organizations including:
- African Wildlife Foundation
- Cahaba River Society
- McWane Science Center
- Greater Birmingham Humane Society
- World Wildlife Foundation
Fletcher was also civic-minded, working and volunteering for the City of Pelham. Gretchen DiFante, Pelham’s city manager, said Fletcher was “an engaged resident who rightly demanded improved governance and transparency from public officials. She was incredibly intelligent, passionate, and encouraging.”
The City of Pelham honored Fletcher’s dedication and contributions by selecting her as the Grand Marshal of the Christmas Parade in 2022. The Alabama Legislature and City of Birmingham declared a “June Fletcher Day.”
Fletcher’s parents, Dr. June Thomas Fletcher and Dr. Richard Van Fletcher, were both medical doctors.
“Our discussions at the dinner table would be usually talk about surgery,” Dynesius recalled.
So, it was no surprise when Fletcher decided to study biology at Tufts University. The study of biology would lead to a great love for animals, which led to a passion for nature conservation.
“She often said she preferred animals to people,” Dynesius said with a laugh.
During her lifetime, Fletcher took three trips to Africa where she fell in love with the continent’s wildlife, especially the elephants.
Through her fund, Fletcher will continue to make an impact in Birmingham and beyond.
Learn more about Legacy Giving through the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham.