Howard Patterson Garner, Sr (Beloved Coach) went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, April 30, 2015 after a battle with cancer, at 77 years of age. He was preceded in death by Jane Marie Helms Garner the mother of his children; father and mother James Earl Garner Sr. and Marion Connell Howard Garner.
Coach Garner is survived by his loving wife, Sandy Scott Garner; his children, Howard Patterson Garner Jr. (Angie), Elizabeth Garner Ferguson (Carl), David Garner (Teresa), and Robert Garner (Audra); brothers, James Earl Garner Jr. (Kay) and Carlton Garner; grandchildren, Howard Patterson Garner III (Sarah), Kristen Garner Dabbs (Nick), David Garner (Annie), Jonathon Garner (Carolline), Annabeth, Austin, Savannah and Kaitlyn Garner and Aiden Bowman; stepchildren, David Bowman (Wendy) and Deborah Bowman; great-grandchildren, Gates Garner, and Garner Dabbs.
He graduated the first graduating class of Robert E Lee in 1956. He attended Troy State College where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in 1960 and earned his varsity letter in track and golf. In 1973, he earned a Masters Degree in education, also from Troy State College.
Coach Garner began his professional career in Montgomery as a teacher and coach at his alma mater, Lee High School. His golf teams won the state championship three years in a row. In 1964, he transferred to Floyd Junior High School where he served as Community Center Director; coach of football, basketball, track, golf, tennis, and swimming teams. His Falcons football team won a city championship in 1965 and the basketball team won both city and state championships in 1967.
He organized tennis and golf competition for the Montgomery Parks and Recreation for all the Montgomery junior high schools. He was instrumental in developing the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Montgomery. He was nominated for the YMCA "Man of the Year" and for the Physical Education Teacher of the Year. Pat was inducted into the Robert E. Lee Hall of Fame in 2006.
Following his retirement from the field of education, Pat formed Professional Packing and Shipping, which is successfully operating today. For the past 10 years, he was a 'professional driver' in the Relocation Division for Enterprise Holdings, Inc. He was a charter member of Harvest Family Church. For over fifty years Coach was a positive role model for his students, family and church through teaching, and community activities.
Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00p.m., Sunday, May 3, at Leak Memory Chapel with funeral services Monday, May 4, at 11a.m. at Harvest Family Church with his nephews, Pastors Bill McNeese and Perry Green officiating. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery following church services.
Pallbearers will be Ed Jones, Eely Jackson, Walter Cooper, Norman Greene, Fleetwood Rice, Cedric Rodgers. Honorary pallbearers Judy Henderson, Richard Ingram, Ralph Forbus, Don Worthington and Don Cox and his Brothers and Sisters of Harvest Family Church.
Condolences may be offered at www.leak-mc.com.
In lieu of flowers, Coach Garner requested contributions be sent to Harvest Family Church-building fund or Alacare Hospice.
Published in the Montgomery Advertiser from May 2 to May 3 2015.