Garner, Leroy

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” II Timothy 4: 6-8 (KJV) Leroy Garner was born on July 27, 1944 in Effingham, South Carolina. Leroy completed the quartet of sons, Arthur, Melvin, and Charles, born to James and Lola Hawkins Garner. On Wednesday, March 23, 2011, he departed this life at Carolinas Hospital System in Florence, South Carolina. “Sonny”, as he was affectionately called by family and friends, attended the public schools of Florence District One. He was intellectually gifted; whatever he chose to learn came easily to him. His superior intellect was first noticed by his maternal grandmother, Eliza Cusack Hawkins when he was three years old. Leroy became an excellent brick layer and worked all over the country in that capacity. He worked in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and in the Washington, DC area. He loved his work and took great pride in pointing out building that he worked on. Leroy was very devoted to his family and friends, especially his nieces and nephews. He developed a special bond with his grandnephew, Melvin “Little Melvin” Garner of Brooklyn, New York. In addition to his parents, Leroy was preceded in death by two siblings, Arthur and Melvin Garner. Leroy leaves everlasting memories to his family and friends: a brother, Charles T. Garner of Kingstree, SC; an aunt, Inez Colter of Philadelphia, PA; a sister-in-law, Milatine Ham Garner of Effingham, SC; five nieces, Phyllis Jones of Florence, SC; Marilyn Garner (Terry) Green of Capital Heights, MD; Patricia Kisic, Theresa Keeling, and Sonia Garner, all of Queens, NY; four nephews, Tony Garner and Jerry Garner of Effingham, SC; Gerald (Lois) Garner of Cocoa Beach, FL, and Reginald Garner of Charleston, SC; and a host of other relatives and friends.