Rachel Wood Tanner

Mrs. Rachel Wood Tanner, age 84, of Sandersville, died Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at the Serenity Hospice in Dublin. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 11:00am at the May and Smith Funeral Home Chapel with burial in the Brownwood Cemetery in Sandersville. Rev. Lee Lacey and Rev. Wayne Durden will officiate. Mrs. Tanner’s grandsons and nephews will serve as pallbearers and the Joy Sunday School Class of 1st Baptist will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Mrs. Tanner was born in Washington County the daughter of the late Edmond Emanuel Welch and the late Mattie Nora Renfroe Welch. She was retired from the Washington County Board of Education as bookkeeper. Mrs. Tanner was a member of the First Baptist Church of Sandersville where she was a member of the Joy Sunday School Class. She was a longtime member of the Order of the Eastern Star where she served as Worthy Matron. Mrs. Tanner was a member of the Washington County Historical Society; she was an artist and loved art. She is predeceased by her first husband Henry H. Wood, her sister Ruth W. Barron and her brother Clarence Welch.

Survivors are; her husband Earl Tanner of Sandersville, daughters Janet W. Gulledge (Gene) of Talking Rock and Lenora W. Kirkley (Cort) of Richmond VA., one son, Henry H. Wood III (Deborah) of Milledgeville, six grandchildren, five great grandchildren and her sister Sarah W. Hartley of Sandersville.

The family will receive friends Friday from 5 to 7pm at the May and Smith Funeral Home.

Donations may be made to Serenity Hospice Foundation 520 Hillcrest Pkwy., Dublin, GA. 31021.

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