Sara Ann Tanner

Sara Ann Tanner peacefully passed on to be in God’s arms January 2, 2023, in Tallahassee, Florida. Sara Ann was born in the Clopton Community, Tennessee in 1935, and was raised in Covington, Tennessee, where she graduated from Byars Hall High School in 1953 and met her husband of 61 years, Captain Charles Nels Tanner. She lived the last six years in Tallahassee, Florida.

Sara Ann was a loyal military wife of her Naval fighter pilot husband and traveled extensively with her husband and children throughout the country and around the world. She befriended many young military wives unfamiliar to the challenging life of spending months away from their husbands. When she was 30 years of age, her husband was shot down and captured in 1966 during the Vietnam War. Faced with the constant uncertainty of her husband’s fate, she moved her two small children (Cyndi and Chuck) from California to her family home in Covington to ensure they had the love and support of her extended family and community. She was ultimately one of the fortunate military wives when her husband was released as a POW after 6 1/2 years and returned to Covington in 1973.

Sara Ann had amazing talent as a pianist and singer of opera, popular and Christian music. She was a devoted Choir Director at several Presbyterian churches during her military travel with her husband, ending with her service to First Presbyterian Church in Covington, where she and her husband were active members and supporters serving the church and their faith in many ways.

Her other passions were serious bridge playing and a love of reading which she passed to her daughter. We fondly remember her “Old Crows” bridge games which always included homemade goodies, serious competition and her original bridge foursome on Maple Street with Patricia, Lucia and Frank.

Finally, she was an amazing host, chef and social support during her husband’s Navy years and later, back in their Covington home. She shared her cookbooks and recipe cards with her daughter who tried to replicate many of her favorites but not always with the same excellent as her mother.

Sara Ann had a quick wit and a great smile and was, until her passing, still the most beautiful woman in the room. At her passing she was surrounded by loving children and Tallahassee friends.

She was the youngest of six children and was predeceased by parents Henry Ellis Sage and Ann Elizabeth Prosser; husband Captain Nels Tanner; siblings Melba (Sage) Slover (deceased) and husband Sonny Slover (deceased ) of Memphis Tennessee; EA Sage (deceased) and wife Frankie Sage (decreased) of Covington Tennessee; Polly (Sage) Doty (deceased) and husband Cletus Doty (deceased ) of Mobile Alabama; Myra (Sage) McCormick (deceased) and husband James McCormick (deceased) of Dallas, Texas; and Thurman Sage (deceased) and wife Janie Sage (deceased) of Union City, Tennessee and later Brentwood, Tennessee.

She leaves behind two children she loved and cared for all her life, four grandchildren and four great- grandchildren; daughter Cynthia Tanner Mincy (Bill) of Tallahassee, Florida; son Charles Nels Tanner III (Violet) of Lakeland, Tennessee; grandchildren Sean Ellis Tanner, Nan Mincy Serino (Nick), Mike Mincy (Shelly), and Zachary Mincy (Catherine); and great-grandchildren Jack, Lila, Olivia and Poppy. She also leaves behind a beloved Sister-in-Law, Patsy (Tanner) Davis and her husband Mike Davis of the Charleston Community.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Big Bend Hospice in Tallahassee during this time as well as good friend Sherrie Glass, and Right at Home of Tallahassee with special thanks for Sharon and recognition to Sara Ann’s caregivers Sholana, Jennifer and Loretha.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations recognizing Sara Ann be sent to Big Bend Hospice of Tallahassee; 1723 Mahan Center Boulevard; Tallahassee, Florida 32308.

First Presbyterian Church, 403 South Main Street, Covington, Tennessee 38019, Mt. Carmel Cemetery Association, PO Box 1, Covington, Tennessee 38019 or the Macedonia Cemetery Association, 11508 Macedonia Road, Arlington, Tennessee 38002.

The family will have a private service and announce a memorial service to celebrate Sara Ann’s life at a future date.