Coach Mary Jane Atchison Garner

Augusta, GA – Entered into rest on Thursday, July 02, 2020, Mrs. Mary Jane Atchison Garner, 70, loving wife of 50 years to Mr. Forrest Garner.

Mary Jane was born in Washington, GA and graduated from Warren County High School. She obtained her undergraduate degree at Georgia College in Milledgeville, Masters at the University of Georgia and Specialist Degree at Augusta College. Coach Garner was a longtime P.E. and Health Sciences teacher at Rollins, Meadowbrook, and Jenkins White Elementary Schools, finishing her career at Lucy C. Laney High School where she coached softball for 23 years, and was beloved by her players for the rest of her life. She was also President of the Local PTA and was an active member of Pine View Baptist Church. Mary Jane was a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

Mary Jane was not only a great coach but a great athletic player. In high school, she played softball, tennis and basketball. Multiple times she scored over 50 points in a basketball game. Mary Jane played on several ASA Industrial Softball teams in Augusta. In 1981, she played in the National championship in Seattle, Washington where the team placed 3rd in the nation. She was elected as the National All Star Pitcher.

Mary Jane’s great attribute was being a coach and mother to her “girls”. She would often help them in dealing with family matters and assist the girls in difficult decisions. After games she would take the girls by McDonlads to eat, and if a player didn’t have money she would secretly hand them money and tell them to get in line and order like the others. Many of her players she helped to secure college scholarships even driving them and their family to the college to tour it.

Family members, in addition to her husband, include her sons: Gabriel Garner (Terra), Cameron Garner (Shanna); grandchildren: Olivia Garner, Connor Garner, Chelsea DeMontigny (Jayce); great-grandson: Waylon DeMontigny; brother: Charles Atchison (Paula); sister: Emily Atchison (Betsy Alexander); and many other loving family members. Mrs. Garner was preceded in death by her parents, Burt and Luna Mae Atchison.

The funeral service will be held Monday, July 6, 2020 at 11:00 A.M. at Pine View Baptist Church with Rev. John Kilpatrick officiating. Interment will follow at Jennings Baptist Church Cemetery in Crawfordville, GA at 2:00 P.M.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Pine View Baptist Church DFR, 119 Pleasant Home Road, Augusta, GA 30907 or The Gideons International Axillary, P.O. Box 14774, Augusta, GA 30919-0774.

The family will receive friends on Sunday afternoon, July 5, 2020 from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com