Sylvester L. Garner, Jr.

Obituary For Sylvester L. Garner, Jr.

A celebration of life honoring Mr. Sylvester L. Garner, Jr. of Talladega, 75, will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 13, 2022, at Mt. Canaan Baptist Church. Interment will be held in the Coosa Valley Church Cemetery, Vincent. Mr. Garner will lie in state at the church one hour prior to the service. Visitation will be held on Friday, August 12, 2022, from 1-7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Sylvester (Brother) Garner was the oldest child born to the late Deacon Sylvester Garner, Sr. and the late Deaconess Christine Peak Garner on December 21, 1946, in Aldrich (Shelby County), Alabama. The Garner family relocated to Selma, Alabama where Sylvester grew up. He attended public school in Selma before coming to Talladega and attending the School for the Blind.

Sylvester was introduced to Miss Peggy McGraw by Deacon Eddie Player and they were united in holy matrimony on December 13, 1986, at the Mount Canaan Missionary Baptist Church in Talladega, Alabama by Dr. Horace L. Patterson, Sr. This union was blessed by God for thirty-five (35) wonderful and happy years. Sylvester was a wonderful husband and a delightful individual to all who knew him.

Brother Garner had a beautiful voice; he loved to sing, especially birthday serenades to his family and friends!!!!! He sang in the Senior Choir, Male Chorus, and his beloved Inspirational Choir. Sylvester always credited Mrs. Florietta Taylor with teaching him how to use his singing voice in the best possible way. The late Sam Cooke was one of his favorite artist and many people, particularly the late Dr. T. Y. Lawrence, often called him Sam Cooke. Sylvester loved to practice his music and would spend hours doing just that and learning his songs from memory. His voice will be missed.

Sylvester retired from the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. He was an active member of the National Federation for the Blind, Talladega County Area Alumni Chapter of Alabama A & M University, Tipton High School and Shelby County Training School--Alabama Alumni Chapters, Talladega Chapter of the NAACP and the Alabama Democratic Conference.

Sylvester departed this earthly life to be with the Heavenly Father on Saturday, August 6, 2022, at his residence. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sylvester, Sr. and Christine Garner; a brother, Joe L. Garner; and a sister, Christine Garner Vaughn.

Cherishing Sylvester's memory are his loving wife, Mrs. Peggy M. Garner; two sisters, Ms. Rosa Garner (Selma, AL) and Ms. Gertrude Garner Scott (Montgomery, AL); three brothers, Reverend W. C. (Tracy) Garner (Houston, TX); McArthur Garner (Selma, AL); Nathaniel (Cheryl) Garner (Montgomery, AL); one brother-in-law, Robert O. (Mary) McGraw (Cornelius, North Carolina); lifetime friend from the Poor People's March--Washington, D.C., Mrs. Vivian (The Late Harry) Duke (Chesapeake, Virginia); numerous nieces and nephews who were like his children; special cousins, special friends, church family, and his AIDB & NFB family.