Wilton Vernon Tanner, Sr.

Vernon was born May 12, 1934 in Waycross, Georgia, a place he loved. His parents and extended family were traditional and used to working hard in such endeavors as farming, pines, turpentine and small business.

Growing up he developed a love for all sports but particularly for basketball and golf. He passed the love of athletics to his three children, including his strong love for the Georgia Bulldogs.

He was a veteran, having served in Alaska from 1954-1956. Being from South Georgia, he hated the Alaskan winters but did his duty honorably.

He loved being well-dressed and developed his sense of style while working for his uncle in Prim’s Men’s Shop in downtown Waycross during summer breaks.

Vernon met the love of his life, Marjorie (Margie) Simmons while they were students at Mercer. The night of their first date, Vernon proudly told his fraternity brothers that he’d met the woman he wanted to marry.

While always remaining an authority figure, Vernon never forgot how to play. He famously played church league softball for Trinity Presbyterian, a team that went 0 and 34. When then finally won, they earned a write-up in the Macon Telegraph. Every evening during the summer months, the Tanner backyard hosted softball games. One day my mother counted 23 kids playing along with him.

Vernon worked for many years as senior underwriter at Cherokee National Life Insurance company. He worked to live, not the other way around. He cherished time spent with his wife and children. He loved music and spent many years in the choirs at Trinity Presbyterian and Park Memorial Methodist Church. He was also a member of Park’s Pickers.

He was a kind man, a gentleman in every sense of the word and always a lover of jokes He would sometimes ask “Does your face hurt you? No, why? It hurts me to look at you.”

Survivors include his three children: Kathryn (Walt) Tanner Pfirman, Wilton (Tracie) Vernon Tanner, Jr, William Marcus Tanner, grandchildren Lauren (Adam) Blagg, Meredith Pfirman, Brooke Tanner and Kayleigh (Cameron) Flury and four great grandchildren, his older brother, Col. Walter (Ann) D. Tanner; nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, December 23, 2023 at Park Memorial Methodist Church, 5290 Arkwright Rd Macon, GA 31210 with visitation following. Burial will be private in Riverside Cemetery. Rev. Loran Smith will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Park Memorial Methodist Church.

The family expresses gratitude for Carlyle Place and Pine Pointe Hospice for their loving care.

Snow's Memorial Chapel, Bass Road, has charge of arrangements.