Dr. Gary Neil Garner

Oxford, Mississippi Funeral Services for Dr. Gary N. Garner will be held at 1:00pm on Friday, September 8, 2017 at Whitesand Baptist Church. Dr. Garner, age 81, passed away from this life on Tuesday, September 5, 2017 in Oxford. Reverend Hilton Lane and Reverend Charles Burnham will officiate. Diane Stewart, Vicky Bridges, and Allen Carroll, II will provide the musical service. Interment will be in Whitesand Baptist Church Cemetery. Saulters-Moore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers will be Wayne Bridges, James Bridges, Patrick Bridges, Adam Bridges, Lance Garner, and Clay Garner. Serving as Honorary Pallbearers will be 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 January 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 was 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; 1 son, Randy Garner and his wife Marcia of Newton; 1 daughter, Celeste Carroll and her husband David of Oxford; 4 grandchildren, Allen Carroll, II, Alissa Carroll McClure, Mason Garner, Neil Garner; 1 great-grandson, Nathan McClure; 2 brothers, Calvin Garner and Billy Garner, both of Prentiss; as well as a host of other relatives, and friends. Visitation will be Friday, September 8, 2017 from 12:00pm until 1:00pm at Whitesand Baptist Church.