John L. Fortner, 84, died Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017, at Oxford Health and Rehab in Oxford, Miss. The funeral service will be held Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, at 11 a.m. at Springhill Methodist Church with Rev. Steve Quarles officiating. Burial will follow in Springhill Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday evening, Dec. 20, 2017 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Waller Funeral Home and beginning at 10 a.m. prior to the service at the church.   

Born in Lafayette County, Miss., to the late Delmer Doyle and Gladys Lucille Ransom Fortner, Mr. Fortner was a member of the former Old Dallas Church. He had a great fondness for horses and even rode in horse shows in his earlier years. He owned his own bull dozer business for 60 years and cleared many acres of land in the Lafayette County area. Along with his parents, his was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Harwell and his brothers, J.D., Bobby and Delmer Lamar Fortner.    

Survivors include his daughter, Jean Ledford and her husband, Tim of Oxford, Miss.; sons, Johnny and Penny Fortner of Old Dallas, Miss., Steve and Janice Fortner of Old Dallas, Miss., Billy and Ofelina Fortner of Oxford, Miss. and Ricky Fortner of Oxford, Miss.; sisters, Opal Henderson of Sardis, Miss. and Glenda Henley of Coles Point, Miss.; brothers, Donald Dean Fortner of Coldwater, Miss. and Charlie Fortner of Bruce, Miss.; five grandchildren, seven step-grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions in Mr. Fortner’s memory may be made to the Springhill Cemetery Fund, c/o Jimmy Bratton, 1623 Highway 334, Oxford, MS 38655.

For more information or to sign an online guestbook, please visit our website at www.wallerfuneralhome.com or call 662-234-7971.