SUMNER – Franklin Brown Tanner, 75, of Sumner passed away Wednesday, December 26, 2018, at his residence. His funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 29, 2018, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Howard Vogan and the Rev. Dan Robinson officiating. Mr. Tanner was laid to rest at Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery in Chula.
Mr. Tanner’s grandsons and Ross Parish and Kim Mims served as pallbearers.
Born January 11, 1943 in Tifton, Mr. Tanner was the son of the late George Ross Tanner and Amelia “Polly” Brown Tanner. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Merle Malcom Tanner, who he dearly loved; and two brothers, Anthony Ross Tanner and infant, William Tanner. He was a retired farmer and emergency services contractor. He was a member of Ty Ty United Methodist Church.
Mr. Tanner is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Ben and Tonya Tanner of Tifton; one daughter and son-in-law, Beth and Frank Murphree of Troy, Alabama; six grandchildren, Hunter Murphree, Cason Murphree, John Tanner, Rachael Tanner, Heather Tanner and Ross Tanner; one brother-in-law and his wife, Bobby and Charlene Malcom; and two sisters-in-law, Kathryn Vining and Marglen Tanner.
Memorial gifts may be made to Ty Ty United Methodist Church, 144 Church Street, Ty Ty, GA 31795.
Condolences may be sent to the family at the online guest registry at www.bowen-donaldson.com. Services for the Tanner family were under the care and direction of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.