Mary Alice Garnto, age 97, of Sandersville passed away on Saturday, December 14, 2024. A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held on Monday, December 16 at 2:00 p.m. in the Sisters Baptist Church of Sandersville with burial to follow in the Church Cemetery. Dr. Tom Akins and Reverend Harry Hadden will officiate. Pallbearers will be Jonathan Bussell, Brock Tyson, Brayden Tyson, Gabe Mack, Glenn Alexander, Mark Sprosty, Corey May, and Casey May. The family will receive friends on Sunday, December 15 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at May and Smith Funeral Home of Sandersville.
Mrs. Garnto was a native and lifelong resident of Sandersville, the daughter of the late Harris Duggan Tanner and the late Mary Sumner Tanner. She spent her working career with Thomas Motor Company for 18 years prior to serving as a homemaker. Mary Alice often entertained family and friends, assisting as a “community mother,” transporting children to various events and delivering her “famous” cakes to others. Mrs. Garnto was a lifelong member of the Sisters Baptist Church, acting on various committees, serving as church hostess, singing in the choir, and teaching Bible School and children’s Sunday School classes. She was the recipient of a pin from the Southern Baptist Convention for attending over 25 consecutive years of her weekly Sunday School Class. Known as “Smiley,” Mary Alice enjoyed spending time with people, fluttering around in her wheelchair as social butterfly during her time at Heritage Inn. Mrs. Garnto most cherished her family, especially her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by the love of her life and dance partner, Leo Garnto, and sister, Ellen Alexander.
Survivors include her daughters, Mary Ellen Bussell and husband Bennie of Sandersville and Linda Boyd and husband Randy of Tennille; daughter-in-law, Angela Garnto of Sandersville; grandchildren, Jonathan Bussell and wife Andrea, Allison Tyson and husband Brock Rivers, Brandy Rivers, Lorelei Rivers, Scarlett Rivers, and Josh Garnto; step-grandchildren, Charlton Boyd, Allen Boyd, and Stephanie Boyd; great-grandchildren, Kelsey Chapman, Gabe Mack, Shayla Mack, Grayson Feutral, Reagan Reynolds, Brayden Tyson, Rylee Tyson, Julia Bussell, and Ella Bussell; step-great-grandchildren, Jacob Boyd and Jada Bruins; great-great-grandchildren, Jozie Hooks and Jasper Hooks; sister, Eugenia May; and sisters-in-law, Lillian McCoy and Barbara Garnto.
Donations may be made to Heritage Inn Resident Activities Fund, 652 Ferncrest Drive, Sandersville, Georgia 31082 or to the Sisters Baptist Church, 1807 East McCarty Street, Sandersville, Georgia 31082.
The family may be contacted at the residence of Bennie and Mary Ellen Bussell, 4093 Georgia Highway 68 North in Sandersville.
Please leave an online condolence at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com.
May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.