Kathryn Lee Reynolds Garner, age 73, of Tennille, passed away on Monday, August 9, 2021 at the Washington County Regional Medical Center following a brief illness. A graveside funeral service to celebrate Kay’s life will be held on Friday, August 13th at 11:00 A.M. in the Brownwood Cemetery in Sandersville. Reverend Danny Thomas will officiate. The family will greet friends following the graveside service in the Cemetery. The practicing of social distancing and the wearing of face masks is encouraged.
Kay was born in Madison, Georgia on December 28, 1947, the daughter of the late William “Billy” Alva Reynolds Jr. and the late Kathryn Caldwell Huskey, and the granddaughter of the late George and Kate Caldwell of Greensboro. She was reared in Greensboro prior to moving to Tennille, where she graduated from the Washington County High School in 1966. While in high school, Kay was a cheerleader and active in numerous school clubs, including, the Talon Yearbook Club. Following graduation, Kay attended and graduated from the Morris Drawn Business College in Atlanta. She worked at Black and Decker to help pay for her education. Following college, she married her high school sweetheart, Al Garner. Afterwards, Kay began a 34-year career at the Georgia Department of Transportation, working in the draft room, administration, and finally as the District Engineer’s Secretary until her retirement in 2000. Kay loved working for the “Highway Department” and was often the first to volunteer to be on a shower or a food committee. She was a recipient of the Commissioner’s Merit Award, which is the highest merit award at the GDOT. During retirement, Kay worked for both Buddy Jordan Florist in Sandersville and Kreative Kreations in Wrightsville. She was a former member of the First Baptist Church of Sandersville and current member of the First Church of the Nazarene. Anyone who knew Kay, knew that her grandchildren, Logan and Reagan, were her world. One could find her at every function in which the girls participated. She loved to travel. Spring Break was designated as “her week,” and Disney World was her favorite place to visit. She loved hot dogs from Casey’s Corner, and like her son, Jason, felt the need to rescue any animal in need. She loved working in her yards prior to a stroke in 2015 and could often be found in Walmart. Volunteering at the Tennille Retirement Home was one of her latest and greatest joys.
Survivors include her children, Ellen Garner Wright and her husband John of Sandersville and Jason Edward Garner of Tennille; grandchildren, Logan Ivy Wright and Reagan Leigh Wright; honorary granddaughter, Sophie Grace Kay; sisters, Jeni Pearson Moats and her husband Harold of Tennille and Georgia LoPreiato and her husband Gerard of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; mother-in-law, Mary Ellen Garner of Tennille; brother-in-law, Bill Garner and his wife Janice of Warthen; and nieces and nephews, Gina Sheppard and her husband Steven, Kevin Tanner and his wife Tina, Amanda Johnson and her husband Aaron, Samantha Howell and her husband Michael, Erin Garner, and Ray Garner.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tennille Retirement Home Resident Activities Fund or to Kay Garner’s Grandchildren’s College Education Fund, both in care of Citizens Bank of the South. P. O. Box 836, Sandersville, Georgia 31082.
Online condolences may be expressed at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com.
May and Smith Funeral Director is in charge of these arrangements.