ELGIN – Graveside service with military honors for Herman Bruce Fortner, USN (Ret), 68, will be held on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at Fort Jackson National Cemetery. The Rev. Richard Humphries will officiate. The family will receive friends Wednesday 6-8 p.m. at Powers Funeral Home, Lugoff. Memorials may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association. Mr. Fortner passed away on Sunday, October 29, 2017. Born in Toccoa, Ga., he was the son of the late Clark Miles and Jessie Ruth Cash Fortner. He retired after 20 years from the United States Navy as a Chief Petty Officer E-7. He served in Vietnam and some of the medals he received were the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and 13 Gold Wreath Awards. Mr. Fortner was a member of the American Legion Post 17. He enjoyed welding and making decorative iron work. Bruce enjoyed playing the guitar and singing and was part of the Fortner Boys Gospel Group. Surviving are his wife and love of his life of 45 years, Brenda Bowen Fortner, who held his hand when he went to meet the Lord; daughters, Kellie Fortner Floyd (Chad) of Atlanta, Ga. And Teresa Fortner Ballentine (Scott) of Winnsboro; brother, Jack Fortner (Carolyn) of Elgin; grandchildren, Carly Floyd of Atlanta, Michael Davidson (Summer) of Elgin and Luke Pruitt of Elgin; great-grandchildren, Berkley Davidson and Jennings Davidson; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brothers, LeRoy Fortner and Roger Fortner.