Mell J. Tanner Jr.
Mell Jordan Tanner, Jr., 76, of Monticello, died Monday March 3, at Heartland Hospice in Conyers.
Funeral services will be held today, March 6, at 2 p.m. at Monticello Baptist Church in Monticello with burial in West View Cemetery in Monticello. Dr. Kerry R. Bunn and Vicar Gary L. Abbott will officiate.
Pallbearers will be Mark West, Bob West, William Fawcett, Hugh Brock, Joe McMichael, Malcolm McMichael, James Westbrook, Johnny N. Smith, Thurman Willis, Jr., and Danny McBroom.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Monticello Baptist IV Sunday School Class.
The family will receive friends Wednesday, March 5, from 6-8 p.m. at Jordan Funeral Home in Monticello.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Monticello Baptist Church, 334 W. Green Street, Monticello GA 31064, Piedmont Academy, P.O. Box 231, Monticello, GA 31064, or Heartland Hospice Hospital, 1374 Manchester Dr. Conyers, GA 30012.
Mell, son of the late Mell Jordan Tanner, Sr. and Addie May Young Tanner, was born August 2, 1931 in Sandersville. He graduated from Sandersville High School, attended ABAC, and received a BS in animal husbandry from the University of Georgia. Mr. Tanner served in the U.S. Army from 1952 until 1954. After serving his country, he was first employed as an assistant County Agent in Walton County, working primarily with the 4-H program. Later he moved to Burke County, where he served as Associate County Agent. In 1966, he moved to Jasper County, as the Cooperative Extension Director, and served in that position until his retirement in 1986.
During his tenure as extension director, he attended the 45th National Convention in Chicago, he was part of the Georgia 4-H Delegate team in Washington D.C., and he led a team of Extension personal, 4-Her’s and volunteers at the Macon State Fair each year in creating a booth representing agricultural history in Jasper County. His career enabled him to work with young people, helping them develop skills in their chosen field.
Mr. Tanner was devoted to his community and shared his passion for sports through active involvement in many local athletic programs. He officiated basketball games, umpired softball and baseball games, and coached girl’s softball. At Piedmont Academy, he was part of the chain crew at football games, and ran the clock at basketball games for many years. He was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis Club.
After his retirement, he was the manager at the Dairy Queen and the Monticello Motel and worked on Westbrook Farm in Shady Dale. He was a member of the Monticello Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon. A brother-in-law, William D. Fawcett, Sr. preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Bonnie Kesler Tanner of Monticello; his daughter, Bonita Kaye Tanner of St. Simons; his son and daughter-in-law Mell Jordan Tanner, III and Tiffany Marie Tanner and his grandchildren, Nathaniel Jordan Tanner and Benjamin Duggan Tanner, all of Madison; sister, Jessie T. Fawcett of Savannah and sister and brother-in-law, Anita and Lewis M. West of Sandersville.
Jordan Funeral Home of Monticello is in charge of arrangements.