Sophia Fortner

Sophia Merchant Fortner, 80, of 2320 Highway 248 South, Ninety Six, widow of Allen P. �Tincy� Fortner, died Friday, August 13, 2010 at the Saluda Nursing Center. Born in Saluda County, she was a daughter of the late Robert Lee and Connie Clyde Crouch Merchant. Following her marriage to Tincy on November 9, 1946, she went to work at the Ninety Six Mill, and after the birth of her three children, decided to further her education, receiving her degree in Elementary Education from Lander College. She taught at Piedmont Technical College, in the Saluda School system and for 25 years at Ninety Six Elementary School, retiring in 1990. When being honored at the time of her retirement, she commented that �every day had been like Valentine�s Day�, which was an expression of her true love for her school and all of the students that she taught through the years. She loved her church, Kinards United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school and held many other positions. Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Glenda and Stanley Vines; her sons and daughters-in-law, Allen and Pam Fortner, Phillip and Debbie Fortner, all of Ninety Six; sisters, Lillie M. Gunter, Connie Merchant Owings (Jerry) and Bobby Merchant Crouch (Richard), all of Saluda and Betty Jo Merchant Dorn (Gerald) of Greenwood; brothers, Thomas Ray Merchant, Clyde T. Merchant (Betty) and James Gamwell Merchant (Beth), all of Saluda; grandchildren, Brian Fortner (Lauren), Tammie Fortner Southerland (Daymon), Amy Vines Somaini (Jamie), Al Fortner (Angie), Julie Fortner Lardizabal (Eric), Jonathan and Erica Rushton; great grandchildren, Eden and Jayden Southerland, Sophia Somaini, Katie Marie Fortner and Efran Allen Lardizabal; and special caregiver, Ann Mitchell. She was preceded in death by brothers, Johnny C. Merchant and Robert E. Merchant. Pallbearers will be her sons, Allen and Phillip, grandsons, Al Fortner, Brian Fortner and Jonathan Rushton and son-in-law, Stanley Vines. Honorary escort will be Hazel Brown, Grace Mitchell, Rosa Harrison, Mike Leopard, Timmy Price, Dr. Brian Ellenburg, Stevie Balchin, George McDermott and Gene Adams. The family is at the home, 2320 Highway 248 South, Ninety Six. It is respectfully requested that flowers be omitted and memorials made to Kinards United Methodist Church, c/o Rev. Danny Wiley, 104 Lebanon Church Road, Greenwood, SC 29646 or to Epworth Camp, PO Box 115, Greenwood, SC 29648.

Sophia Fortner

December 17, 1969 - August 13, 2010

Explore Obituaries &
Upcoming Services