Emily Garner Anderson

Emily Garner Anderson, 90, of Dalton passed away Thursday, September 28, 2017 at Tranquility of Dalton.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred M. Anderson; her parents, Holloway and Hilda Gore Garner; and her brother, Denny Garner.

Emily was born in Rockmart, Polk Co., GA. She graduated in 1945 from Rockmart High School where she was a cheerleader and voted Most Athletic. A few months before her high school graduation, she completed requirements as an airplane pilot. At the University of Georgia, she majored in aeronautical administration.

After her marriage, she taught one year at Valley Point—a class of 50 fifth graders! She then taught over six years at Fort Hill where she also coached boys’ softball. In 1958 she established the kindergarten at Dalton First Baptist Church, taught, and was director for 24 years.

Emily was an artist who taught many crafts classes at Church and in the community. Her many activities included founding member and first president of Dalton Herb Society, chair of Dalton Regional Library board, Junior Woman’s Club president, Lions Club Auxiliary president, Lesche president, and Friends of the Library. For her family and friends, she wrote The Flying Gamers, a history of her family’s airplane exploits. For the past few years, she has been a resident of Tranquility of Dalton where her humor and positive attitude encouraged other residents.

Emily is survived by her son, Barry (Cheryl) Anderson of Sterret, AL; grandsons, Randy (Amy) Stracner of Jasper, AL and Nathan Anderson of Cordova, AL; great-granddaughters, Chelsea and Kennedy Stracner; sister-in-law, Ann Garner Trimble of Rome, GA; nieces and nephews, Rebecca (Ron) Kennedy of Dalton, Ellen (Art) Thompson of Cohutta, Denise Garner of W. VA, Anslie (Glen) Philpot of Rockmart, Mary (Chip) Garner-Mitchell of Ashland, VA and Rex (Sandy) Garner of Rockmart.

A memorial service will be held at 2 PM on Monday, October 16, 2017 at First Baptist Church of Dalton with the Rev. Phillip Cannon, Chaplain Harold Cochran, and Mr. Dewey Hughes officiating.

The family will receive friends prior to the service on Monday from 1 until 2 PM.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Dalton, P.O. Box 827 Dalton, GA 30722 or any of the community organizations listed above that Emily loved.