Mary Ellen Joiner Garner

Mrs. Mary Ellen Garner, age 101, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 5, 2025. A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held on Tuesday, October 7, at 2:00 p.m. at Tennille Baptist Church, with burial in Brownwood Cemetery in Sandersville.  Reverend Darell Young will officiate.  Pallbearers will be John Brooker Sr., Wayne Norris, Billy Smith, Tommy May, Randy Mayberry, Scott Moore, and Jere Myers.   Mrs. Garner's family will greet friends on Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. until the hour of the service at the church.

Mrs. Garner was born and reared in Tennille, the daughter of the late Francis Allen Joiner and the late Mary Kendall Joiner.  She attended Tennille Schools, graduating from Tennille High School, where she excelled in Basketball and Tennis.  Following high school, Mary Ellen attended business school in Atlanta before returning home.  She began a lifelong career in bookkeeping, working for her father's business and then her own family business, Joiner & Garner Feed Store and Farms.  Later, she transitioned her bookkeeping skills to Gator Pool Company and then to Walmart, from which she retired at the age of 88. For many years, Mary Ellen was an active member of First Baptist Church of Sandersville, where she demonstrated her love of children by teaching children's Sunday School and volunteering in the nursery.  Mary Ellen was well known by many children for her generosity, teaching swimming lessons in her pool, and sharing candy and sweets at her home. Mary Ellen was a member of the Tennille Baptist Church and enjoyed the Tea Club Senior Ministry.  She was a proud breast cancer survivor and worked with Washington County Relay for Life, since its inception.  She loved sweets, chocolate, and especially caramel cake. She was well known in the community as "Lil" Grandma, as she was dubbed by her first great-grandchild due to her tiny stature. While tiny in stature, she loved big and loved the Lord and every member of her family the same.  In addition to her parents, her husband, Edward Emanuel "Zut" Garner, her son, Al Garner, her daughter-in-law, Kay R. Garner, and her brother, H. Allen "Buddy" Joiner, all predeceased her.

Mrs. Garner is survived by her son, Bill Garner and his wife Janice of Warthen; grandchildren, Ellen Wright and her husband John, Jason Garner, Ray Garner, Erin Garner, Chad Brown, and Alicia Glassford and her husband Sean; and great grandchildren, Logan Wright, Reagan Wright, Ivy Hodges, Gavin Brown, Finn Brown, Beau Brown, Will Glassford and Vivian Glassford.

Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society at donate.cancer.org in memory of Mary Ellen Garner.

Please leave an online condolence at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com

May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.