Billie Jean Fortner, age 80, of Vidalia, died Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at her home after a sudden illness. She was a native of Reidsville and was a graduate of Reidsville High School. She earned an Associate degree from Brewton-Parker College in Mt. Vernon and Bachelor’s, Master’s and Six Year degree, all in Education from Georgia Southern in Statesboro. She taught school at Toombs County and Montgomery County, primarily in the Gifted Program; and she was a member of the Georgia Retired Teachers Association. She was co-owner of several businesses, including Rabbit’s Truck Stop near Higgston. She attended Smith Street Baptist Church; and she enjoyed shopping, crafting, gardening, and “treasure hunting”. She is preceded in death by her former husband, Robert “Rabbit” Fortner; a daughter, Simone Dixon; parents, Willard “Bill” Burch and Sara Elizabeth Beckworth Burch; and a brother, Jakie Burch.
Her family includes two daughters, Gina Sumner and husband Randy of Marietta, and Natalie Mosley and husband Jason of Vidalia; grandchildren, Daniel Wiggins and wife Wendy of Macon, Ashley Wiggins of Marietta, Christy Dixon of Mt. Vernon, Savannah Beach and husband Patrick of Uvalda, Cheyenna Garner of Uvalda, Denny Garner II and wife Ashley of Vidalia, Randall Dixon of Mt. Vernon, and Macy Mosley and Jackson Mosley of Vidalia; six great-grandchildren, Christopher, Autumn, Peter, Finn, Jameson, and Ezra; and two great-great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be Saturday, December 11th, at 3:00 p.m. at the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home with Pastor Chester Proctor officiating. Burial will follow at Lakeview Memorial Gardens.
The family will assemble at the residence of a grandson, Denny Garner II, 1101 Meadows Lane, Vidalia.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306 or by visiting their website at t2t.org
