Funeral services are scheduled this Saturday, March 14, for a White County woman who was found dead inside a burning car in her driveway on Duncan Bridge Road.
The body of 46-year old Betty Fortner was discovered Tuesday inside her car outside her home at 10755 Duncan Bridge Road, just over the Habersham County line. According to WRWH Radio, A Georgia Power employee drove by and saw the flames, turned around and used a fire extinguisher in his vehicle to put out the fire, but it was too late. White County Chief Deputy Bob Ingram says Fortner’s body was in the driver’s seat and the fire was inside the vehicle. Authorities say it appears the fire was started with gasoline and matches. Fortner’s body was identified using dental records. Investigators are still awaiting the results of toxicology reports.
WRWH reports there is no indication from officials that foul play was involved. Ingram says an autopsy revealed “no visible injury or trauma” and nothing in the autopsy findings changed investigators’ minds that “the source of the fire was gasoline and matches.”
The incident remains under investigation by the White County Sheriff’s Office, GBI, State Fire Marshall’s Office and White County Coroner’s Office.
Fortner was the wife of Lewis Fortner, pastor of White Creek Baptist Church in Cleveland. The couple has three daughters.
Funeral services are scheduled for 1 pm on Saturday at New Bridge Baptist Church on New Bridge Road in Cleveland with the Rev. W.A. “Dub” Jenkins and Rev. Phillip Robinson officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 2-8 pm on Friday, March 13, at McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home in Cornelia.
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