Mr. Alton Russell Tanner, better known as "Russell" age 82, of the Oglethorpe Community of Soperton, GA, passed away on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at the Treutlen County Health and Rehabilitation Center in Soperton.

He was a native and lifelong resident of Emanuel County, Georgia.

He was preceded in death by his wife Jimmie Sue Tanner, an infant child, parents Alton Lee Tanner and Tearra Mondy Tanner, 4 brothers – William Lee, Eddie Henry, John Leon, Clyde; and 4 sisters – Myrthe Aline, Kate Pearl, Wanda Nellyine and Dora Lucy.

Russell has a history of working for a local telephone company burying cable and working for Rayonier at Nunez, GA.  After retiring from Rayonier, you would find him doing various other jobs such as cutting grass and cleaning yards. He was a hard worker.  He liked to stay busy and enjoyed the outdoors and enjoyed working with his hands.  He had a green thumb growing various types of flowers, vegetables and trees and he enjoyed sharing the fruits of his labor with others.

He enjoyed animals.  Growing up he had horses that he rode, various favorite dogs, cats, and a numerous amount of chickens of various types.

You would find him selling the eggs and/or giving them away.  He loved to hunt and fish.  He could work on any lawn mower and had a special talent for interchanging the parts off of one brand name of lawn mower and making that part work on another brand name lawn mower.

He was a social butterfly, enjoyed attending church, local gospel sings, gatherings such as reunions and/or parties and enjoyed eating out at local restaurants.  He enjoyed being around people and talking to people or just hanging out and having a good time.

He was a Charter Member of Morningside Baptist Church.

Mr. Tanner is survived by his care-taker of the last 20+ years, Michelle and husband Jeffery Page of Tarrytown, GA, special niece Lisa Holloway of Swainsboro, GA, special friends Rev. Lamar and Ione Little of Soperton, GA, Teddy and Gail Holton of Soperton, GA, Henry Terwilliger of Swainsboro, GA, the staff of Dennard Drugs of Soperton, GA, the staff members of Treutlen Health and Rehabilitation Center of Soperton, GA, several nieces and nephews along with other numerous friends of Soperton and Swainsboro, GA.

A viewing will take place on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 2 pm at Morningside Baptist Church located in Treutlen County with funeral services to follow at 3 pm.

Graveside services will follow in the church cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be Jeffery Page, JP Page, Mark Lumley, and Clay Page.

Rev Vic Fordham will conduct the services.

Facial coverings will be required of all attendees.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Morningside Baptist Church.

Please share a memory, leave a condolence and sign the online guest register.

SAMMONS FUNERAL HOME, The Tradition Since 1917, Soperton, Georgia