Master Sergeant James Garner Jr. Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Master Sergeant James Garner Jr. entered into rest on July 12, 2014. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday July 16, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. from the Berea Convention Center, 1062 Highway 38, Bennettsville, SC 29512. Interment to follow in Ideal Cemetery, Bennettsville, SC. Visitation & Memorial service will be held Tuesday July 15, 2014 from 6-8 p.m. at Community Funeral Home, 353 Manning Avenue, Sumter, SC. Master Sergeant James Garner, Jr. was born in Bennettsville, SC on July 31, 1946 to the late James and Malvenia Moore Garner, Sr. “Junior”, as he was affectionately known, accepted Christ at an early age at his home church, St. James Free Will Holiness Church. He was a member of the Eastside High School graduating class of 1964 and was named Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges. He obtained controlled studies from Duke University with the ROTC and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina all while being enlisted in the United States Air Force. During his tenure in the military some of his accomplishments were: Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon, AF Longevity Service Award Ribbon with Four Devices, National Defense Medal, AF Overseas Service Long Tour Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal, AF Outstanding Unit Award, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, AF Good Conduct Medal with Five Oak Leaf Clusters and the AF Commendation Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster. His military education included: Postal and Courier Operations Course (which was known to be his lifetime dream job), Senior NCO Academy Correspondence Program, Administration Specialist Course and the MAC NCO Academy. Master Sergeant Garner retired from the Unites States Air Force after twenty years of honorable service and the U. S. Postal Service after twenty-nine years of dedicated service to become the primary care provider to his wife Everee. Mr. Garner is remembered by his children as being their biggest supporter who attended all of their extra curricular activities and events. As his children, he always charged them to tell him the truth and rarely was he angry. He had the “gift of gab” and never met a stranger. Some of his hobbies were bowling, fishing (which he recently enjoyed with his brothers), golf, photography, all sports and working on cars. Junior was a great singer and played base guitar with the Five Singing Stars in Burlington, NC and the Keesler Air Force Base Choir in Biloxi, MS. He was preceded in dearth by his parents and a grandson, Jahborn Ezekiel Tafari Garner. Left to cherish fond and precious memories are his loving wife, Everee McDonald Garner; four sons, James, III, Fredrick (Sheila), Dwaine and Marlon, Garner; daughter, Cheresse Garner; four grandchildren, Jared Ramsey, Melanie Wilson, Fredrick, II and Selah Heru Ganesh Garner; two great grandchildren, LaNiah Evans and Janiya Ramsey three brother, William (Mary), Charles and Edmond (Imo Jene) Garner; five sisters, Rosa Washington, Gertrude Thomas, Willie Mae (Larry) Cannady, Juanita (Jimmy) Prince and Theresa Jacobs and a host of other relatives and friends. A. A. Dicks Funeral Home Sullivan Chapel, 2548 Main Street, Columbia are in charge of these arrangements

Master Sergeant James Garner Jr.

July 31, 1946 - July 11, 2014