Jerry G. Tanner

Jerry Gail Tanner passed away peacefully September 22, 2023 at home surrounded by family. She was born February 20, 1939 in Atlanta, Georgia to Chester and Marguerite Mitchell.

Jerry attended City of Atlanta schools and proudly graduated from Grady High School in 1957. She attended Young Harris College in north Georgia and is a noted alumni. Jerry, being the outgoing social butterfly that she was, met and married Wayne Tanner in 1960. Wayne was enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and stationed in Boston, Massachusetts. Wayne and Jerry moved to Boston, where she transferred with her job and continued to work for Sears & Roebuck. After a year in Boston, they returned to Atlanta and settled into a home in Decatur, Georgia. Jerry had two daughters - Cheryl followed by Michelle.

Jerry lived in a truly simple and long-gone era. Jerry was a wonderful homemaker and took pride in raising her girls. After 16 years of marriage, Jerry and Wayne parted ways. Jerry switched from being a homemaker and dove back into the work force. The next thirty years, Jerry worked in retail and was the Belle of Lenox Square Mall. Jerry retired from the American Greetings Corporation. This is where she came into her mad love of greeting cards. Since Jerry was so very colorful and zany - the greeting card business was the perfect job for her!!

Her sister-in-law, Jane Mitchell shared this fond remembrance of her... "Jerry was a great communicator. Her telephone calls and cards were the connection that kept us close. Our relationship was built by Jerry. I felt her acceptance as soon as we met. We had the best phone calls. No subject was out of bounds. It's funny - the things you confide when trust and wine was present. Jerry left this earth with a few of my secrets."

We're pretty certain that this remembrance is very familiar for all of Jerry's nearest and dearest family and friends. Jerry lived and loved life on her terms and all the way to her last breath. Jerry had mad love for everyone she knew and she lived vicariously through all of us. One thing's for sure - they broke the mold when they made Jerry.

Jerry was preceded in death by her parents, Chester and Marguerite. She is survived by her brother - Brent Mitchell (Jane), her daughters - Cheryl Tanner (Dino) and Michelle Mackie (Scott), her grandchildren - Ian Mackie (Gabby) and Stella Sostre (Alberto), her great-granddaughter - Margot Mackie, and many nieces, great-nieces and a great-nephew.

The family will be honoring Jerry with a Celebration of Life at a later date. And at that time, we will look forward to seeing all those who knew and loved her so. We'd just like to say how much we appreciate all the sincerely heartfelt thoughts and prayers her family has received.