John Bunyan Garner, Jr, descendant of a well-known Polk County pioneer family, died January 3, 2018 in Rome, GA. Born in Cedartown, GA, March 11, 1929, John was the son of the late Ruth Lawson and John Bunyan Garner. He grew up in a very special place: a rock house that his father built on a farm in Esom Hill. That house and farm were the setting for many of John's favorite childhood memories.

As a teenager, John attended Cedartown High School where he played football and met his future wife. After graduating, John served in the U.S. Army for 2 years, including a tour of duty in Korea, then attended Clemson College where he graduated with a degree in civil engineering. In 1951, while a student at Clemson, John married his high school sweetheart, Julianne Morgan.

After graduating from Clemson, John worked for Harlee-Quattlebaum in Florence, SC, then accepted a job with Texaco and became their engineer for the states of Alabama and Florida. In 1957, John moved his family to Rome, GA where he founded Garner Brothers Company, a local construction business. He remained president of Garner Brothers Co. until retirement, when he resumed farming as his occupation.

Farming and John's love of nature were lifelong interests. He loved to re-tell family stories, go bird-hunting with friends, and sit by the fireside with a favorite dog.

John was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church and served as a past Elder. Also he was a strong believer in giving a person a second chance. He made a difference in a number of lives by doing so. A close friend recently described John as "a straight arrow."

John conducted his life with modest dignity and great productive energy. He will be remembered by all who knew him as a worker for the sake of the land, animals, and people around him, and as a steadfast generous friend.

Preceding John in death were his parents and his two siblings: Jo Garner Barrow and James Lewis Garner.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, their two children: son, Michael Morgan Garner (Esther) and daughter, Julianne Garner Douglass (Dan), three grandchildren: Morgan Garner Marziano, John Daniel Douglass, and Robert Reed Douglass, as well as a number of much loved nieces and nephews.

For the very professional and loving attention given by John's caregivers, staff of 5th Avenue Health Care, and Heyman Hospice, the family is most appreciative. We especially wish to thank Brenda Harrell and her sister Linda Carter for their devoted service to John and Julianne for the past 20 years.

A service honoring John Garner's life will be held on Sunday afternoon, January 7 in the Shiloh Baptist Church near Esom Hill with Dr. Greg Lund officiating. All who wish to attend, please gather at 2:00 p.m. Sunday at Gammage & Sons Funeral Home, 106 N. College Street, Cedartown, GA to join the procession of cars to Shiloh Baptist Church. The service at Shiloh will begin at 3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions be made to one of the following:

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1941 Shorter Ave., Rome, GA 30165
Shiloh Baptist Church, 433 Shiloh Rd., Cedartown, GA 30125
Heyman HospiceCare at Floyd, 420 East 2nd Ave., Rome, GA 30161

Messages of condolence can be made to the family by visiting our website and signing the online guestbook at gammagefh.com.

The Olin L. Gammage and Sons Funeral Home is handling the arrangements for Mr. John Bunyan Garner. Jr.