Leonola (Lola) Theresa LeBlanc Fortner

Leonola was born February 25, 1926, in Donaldson, Louisiana, to Leonard (Chauncy) and Neola (Nell) LeBlanc. She passed away at her home in Laurel, Mississippi, on August 22, 2024. She was the fourth of five children and, according to her brothers and sisters, she was her father’s favorite. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings (Bubba, Rosemary, Leise and Paul). She was married to and preceded in death by William Douglas (Bill) Fortner. Lola leaves behind four children: Doug (Margie), Tom (Marian), Missy (Bill) and Nell. Grandchildren are Tyler Fortner (Cris), Laurel Harvin (Chris), Benjamin Patin, Katy McCraw, Jesse McCraw, Alley Samuels (Alex), Will Sanderson (Morgan), Sam Sanderson and Ben Sanderson (Rachelle). Great grandchildren are Conor and Violet Fortner, William, Robert and Zella Samuels, and Grace Sanderson. Lola grew up in south Louisana. She was proud of her Cajun roots and carried on many traditions, especially in her cooking. Family gatherings were a huge part of her life, living near the Mississippi River, and she continued to enjoy close relations with her many, many relatives. LeBlancs, Roberts, Kleinpeters, Persacs, and Marchands were just a few of the families she had deep ties to. She attended high school in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and graduated from LSU in 1947 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. While in college, Lola met Bill in Baton Rouge at a USO club while Bill was training to serve in World War II. After serving in the war (Africa and Europe), Bill returned to attended LSU. They were married in Baton Rouge on July 17, 1948, and remained happily married for the rest of their lives. As Bill started his career with United Gas in New Iberia, they moved from city to city and the kids came along; New Iberia (Doug), Lake Charles (Tom), Jackson (Missy and Nell). There were also stops in Shreveport, LA, St. Petersburg FL, Laurel, MS, and finally, New Braunfels, TX. Upon Bill’s retirement, the couple moved to Gulfport, MS, and made their home on 2nd Avenue. Lola had strong attachments to her families, both hers and Bill’s. She built deep connections between her children and the LeBlanc and Fortner families. She did this by creating small rites of passage for her children and grandchildren. Family meals, regular family gatherings, strong moral standards, being invited to eat at the adult table, coming together in her kitchen for chocolate milk, visits to Mississippi and Louisiana aunts and uncles....and the stories! Lola was an excellent Southern chef. Hot meals were a staple at her house and attendance was required of all. She passed on her secrets as demonstrated by the cooking prowess of all her children and grandchildren. As all of her children and her husband were active and involved in all sorts of athletic and civic pursuits, her cooking had to be done in volume. Her pot roast was huge and legendary, her gumbos were heavenly, her breakfasts were hearty and on time and there were always snacks in the pantry. How she did it all we will never know! Her support and involvement in the churches she attended was strong. She organized and directed many choirs, sang at many services, put on many Fellowship Hall events, and always won the LeBlanc Family Reunion talent shows. Her voice was one with the angels and she passed that on to her daughter, Missy, and granddaughters, Katy and Jesse. After retirement, Lola remained as active as ever in Gulfport. She led the Body Recall exercise program at First Methodist Gulfport for over ten years. She was active in the church and socially, but her big focus in Gulfport was her grandchildren. They all spent weeks in the summer with GrannyMama. Under GrannyMama’s watchful eye, they learned to play, cook, swim, ride bikes and be cousins. With Hurricane Katrina, they evacuated to Laurel. Since Katrina washed away their Gulfport home, they decided to remain in Laurel. God was looking after Lola and Bill with that storm, because it brought them closer to the loving support of Bill, Missy, Tom, and Marian that they both enjoyed for the rest of their lives. In Laurel, Lola thrived at her church, with her friends, at the beauty shop, with her bridge club, watching sports with Bill (particularly Georgia Tech women’s basketball), at the Sunflower grocery store (where everyone knew her name), and with her family. The family would like to thank her caregiver, Cindy Williamson; Ricky Nicholson; Dr Ken Grafton; her special friend, Ginny Gough; and all her loving friends that visited with her so often, in person or by phone. Services for Lola will be Friday, August 30, at 11:00 a.m. at First Methodist Church of Laurel, with a family graveside service in Gulfport, MS. To sign the online guest book, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.

Leonola (Lola) Theresa LeBlanc Fortner

February 25, 1926 - August 22, 2024