Edith Martin Garner

Published 3:21 pm Thursday, March 30, 2017

Funeral services for Edith Martin Garner, 85 of Cordele will be held Friday, March 31, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. at Penia Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Sunnyside Cemetery.  The family will receive friends Thursday evening, March 30, 2017 from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Rainey Family Funeral Services. Edith  passed away Tuesday at her residence. She was born in Wilcox County, the daughter of the late Virgil C. and Pauline Jackson Martin. A 1948 graduate of East Crisp High School, she attended business school in Macon and then married her high school sweetheart, James Garner. She began a 20 year journey as a military wife, traveling across Europe to duty stations such as Ramstein AFB in Germany and Lakenheath AFB in England. Along the way they were able to enjoy family vacations in a VW Bug through Italy, Austria, Holland, France and other European countries. She always managed to stay in touch with special families that they had known over the past 40 years of traveling. After her husband’s retirement from active duty, she accompanied him for another 18 years of Civil Service before retiring and coming back to the heart of the community they loved. She was guided by her love of God, faith, and steadfast devotion to Penia Baptist Church. Edith loved “bling” and all things glittery. She loved to “play,” enjoying tacky parties, she and James dressing up in clown costumes for entertaining, hosting fun affairs and square dancing with her husband and friends. She enjoyed the outdoors as well as camping with James, and working in her tree garden and planting flowers. She was a founding member of the Red Hat Divas of Tremont, and reigned as Queen Bee several times in her 17 year involvement. Edith was a volunteer with SAM Shortline, a life-long community volunteer with the Tremont Community and devoted 26 years to the Crisp Regional Hospital Auxiliary, having only recently retired at the end of 2016. She was an excellent cook and acclaimed for her home-made toffee and loaf cakes. Edith is survived by two children, Cathryn Marie Garner of Tifton and James Martin Garner and his wife, Devon, of Duluth; two grandsons, Nolan Clay Barringer and his wife, Carrie, and Jonathan Martin Garner; four great-grandsons, Sam Barringer, Henry Barringer, Charlie Barringer and Jack Barringer; a sister, Phyllis Martin Judge; and two nephews, Anthony P. Judge and Frankie Herrington. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Garner and a brother, Clavis Franklin Martin. The family would appreciate memorials to the Building Fund at Penia Baptist Church, 3738 Old Penia Road, Cordele, GA 31015. Arrangements are by Rainey Family Funeral Services. An online guest book is available at www.raineyfuneral.com