Funeral services for Dr. Gary N. Garner were held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at Whitesand Baptist Church. Dr. Garner, 81, passed away from this life on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017, in Oxford. Reverend Hilton Lane and Reverend Charles Burnham officiated. Diane Stewart, Vicky Bridges, and Allen Carroll II provided the musical service. Interment was at Whitesand Baptist Church Cemetery.

Saulters-Moore Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers were Wayne Bridges, James Bridges, Patrick Bridges, Adam Bridges, Lance Garner, and Clay Garner. Serving as Honorary Pallbearers were members of the Prentiss Consolidated High School Class of 1953 and members of the Hardy Street Baptist Church Men’s Sunday School Class.

Gary Neil Garner was born on Jan. 12, 1936, in Prentiss to Ezra Lee Garner and Mary Lou McNease Garner. Dr. Garner received his B.A. degree from Mississippi College and was a Fulbright Scholar, studying at Leopard Franzens University in Innsbruck, Austria. He earned his M.A. degree from the University of Mississippi and his Ph.D. from Louisiana State University. Dr. Garner served 34 years in higher education, as a professor teaching foreign languages and in varying capacities, including Academic Dean at Clarke College and Chief Executive Officer at Bluefield College. Following his retirement in Education, Dr. Garner was a financial planner with IDS Financial Services, Inc.

Gary Garner was a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve and was a member of Hardy Street Baptist Church and more recently, Oxford Baptist Church.

Preceding Dr. Garner in death were his mother and father.

Survivors are his wife of 58 years, Mary Nell Bridges Garner of Oxford; one son, Randy Garner and his wife Marcia of Newton; one daughter, Celeste Carroll and her husband David of Oxford; four grandchildren, Allen Carroll, II, Alissa Carroll McClure, Mason Garner, Neil Garner; one great-grandson, Nathan McClure; two brothers, Calvin Garner and Billy Garner, both of Prentiss; as well as a host of other relatives, and friends.

Visitation was Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, from 12-1:00 p.m. at Whitesand Baptist Church.