Emily Tanner Obituary

Emily Doris Howard Tanner, 95, a beloved mother and the widow of Johnnie Minton Tanner, Sr., walked with God her entire earthly journey and Wednesday morning, July 21, 2021, at her residence, she took her Savior by the hand as He led her to the Promised Land.

A Home Going Celebration will be 11AM, Saturday, July 24, 2021, at Rose Hill Baptist Church. Officiating will be Pastor Andrew Wilkes, Pastor Matt Frizell, and Pastor Frankie Tanner. Interment directed by McKenzie Funeral Home will follow in the church cemetery.

The Tanner family will receive family and friends prior to the service from 9:30 to10:30 AM in the church sanctuary.

Mrs. Tanner was born the daughter of Peter Eli Howard and Essie Cribb Howard on March 28, 1926 at the homestead in the Pleasant Hill Community of Georgetown County. She was born the fifth child of eleven siblings: Lonnie Howard, Charlie Howard, Quentin Howard, Gaynell Cumbie, Mary Alford, Sudie Mae Morris, Ann Cottingham, Violet Strong, Sonny Howard, and Perry Howard.

Emily Tanner and her husband Minton (deceased 1999) lived and raised all of their seven children at 214 Frank Cribb Road in the Rose Hill Community of Georgetown County, South Carolina. She was an active member of Rose Hill Baptist church for nearly eighty years. There she encouraged and led women to understand Biblical principles and develop a love for missions. She led the Girls' Auxiliary, teaching young ladies to study the Bible, love Jesus, and pray for missionaries around the world.

In her later years at Rose Hill she led a group of women, "Crafters for Christ," in the making of projects for local and foreign missions. These projects included caps for cancer patients, bibs for the elderly in nursing homes, packets for prisoners, hygiene packets for sailors, dresses and pants for children, and the hundreds of witnessing dolls that were sent on mission trips to Nicaragua and Honduras. The Crafters at Rose Hill have a new leader and will continue to make projects for local and foreign missions for Christ.

Emily's love for Christian missions began as a young girl in the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and continued throughout her life. Even in the early months of her time with Hospice at home, she directed the disbursement of funds for mission projects in Nicaragua and Honduras. Two of those included seed money for a Pharmacy to serve the needy and sewing machines for Nicaraguan women who will make witnessing dolls.

To be a missionary, the dream of her lifetime, was realized twice. She traveled to Nicaragua with her son Frankie and a team of missionaries when she was 76 and 86. Her work there resulted in her having new Christian friends and three "adopted" Christian sons: Pastor Diomedes, Chico, and Juan.

During her life as a full-time Christian wife, mother of seven, homemaker, canner of best Squash pickles, pound cake baker, and strawberry jammer, she also spent some years working at Tupperware and Warner's in Hemingway, SC

In the last few days of life on this Earth, when asked by one of her children, "Momma, do you need anything?" she whispered, "I just need Jesus." For the Christian believer, Heaven has a new resident.

Her home was blessed with: seven children, Patricia Candal (Pastor Steve), Johnnie Tanner, Jr. (Sharon), Pastor Frankie Tanner (Jessie), Phyllis Frye (Mike), Camille Scott (Pastor Theron), Julie West (Pastor Ricky), and Janet Leonard (Brian); thirteen grandchildren, Andrew Candal, Jeremy Candal, Joby Tanner, Kevin Tanner, James Tanner, Darby Cariello (Joe), Kimberlee Turnbough (Jonathan), Richard West (Kimberly), Kristen Bourne (Pete Baggesen), Dr. Michelle Nagro (Dorian), Katherine Poje' (Eric), Kelly Leonard, and Christopher Leonard; eight great grandchildren, Ruby, Emily, Brynn, Nate, Johnny, Kenley, Addison, and a new gift in September; one sister, Mary Alford; a large number of nieces and nephews; and her fur baby, Boe.

She was predeceased by: her parents; her husband; a grandson, Kevin; her siblings, Lonnie, Charlie, Quentin, Gaynell, Sudie Mae, Ann, Violet, Sonny and Perry.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Rose Hill Baptist Church, C/O Missions Budget, 4572 S-22-6, Georgetown, SC, 29440 or Mechanicsville Baptist Church, C/O Nicaragua Missions, 2364 Cashua Ferry Road, Darlington, SC, 29532.

Some masks for COVID protection are available in the church foyer.

McKenzie Funeral Home is honored to serve the Tanner family.