Gary W. Garner

Augusta, GA- Entered into rest on Sunday, July 9, 2023, Mr. Gary W. Garner, 86, loving husband of 65 years to Nancy H. Garner.
Gary was born in Canton, GA to the late Lee and Ruth Garner. Even before he graduated from Marietta High School, he had begun his first woodworking business called Sawdust Junction. Gary was a Master Woodworker and is well known for his exquisite wood works. In the Atlanta area he built reproduction furnishings for high-end homes. After his conversion, he followed the leading of the Holy Spirit and began his ministry of wood working to glorify the Lord through his business, Images of the Cross. Gary and his family moved to Augusta in 1984 to join the Alleluia Community. He wrote two published books about the workings of the Holy Spirit in his personal life. Gary completed his final piece of work, a life size wood carving of a crucified Jesus, a week before his passing.

Gary had many roles in his lifetime. To some, he was known as the woodworker who made the cross hanging on the living room wall, the man who stood outside of Planned Parenthood singing and praying in the cold early mornings before school, a Eucharistic Minister during the Catholic mass, the builder of the casket a loved one was buried in, the neighbor who shouted “GLORY” across the backyard and gym, the publisher of the book just read, or the man who founded and led the annual Good Friday Cross Walk. Gary has been so many things to so many people and he left several legacies to his family. The first legacy left was as artists. All of his children are artists in some way. Some of his grandchildren and great-grands are becoming artists also. In fact, his grandson is currently studying art in Italy. Gary visited Italy 24 years ago and was proud of his grandson to take this special opportunity to go and grow in his talents. For all of Gary’s family members, even those who are not artists, he instilled a love of art and beauty- to look at an art piece and appreciate the colors, shading, textures, and the story behind the picture. But most importantly, instilled a love and pride for the family members who created family art. Gary’s house is filled with family art, and from his children to his grandchildren they have followed his footsteps of showcasing family art in their homes. Gary’s life work of hand crafting crosses, yielded and inspired his family to prayerfully take up their own crosses in order to fulfill their life work of following Jesus.

Family members, in addition to his wife, include his children: Sherre Watwood (David), Brad Garner (Jamie), Craig Garner (Joyce), and Curt Garner (Erica); 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his granddaughter: Annie Watwood and his sisters: Sara Garner and Helen Garner Mackey.

The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, July 14, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Fr. Brett Brennan celebrant. Interment will follow in the Alleluia Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Thursday evening, beginning at 6:00 P.M., and a service begins at 7:00 PM in the Alleluia Community Gym.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pregnant Choices, 4325 Washington Rd, Evans, GA 30809.

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com