Dr. James Samuel Garner, III, of Mullins, SC, died peacefully at his home in Mullins, South Carolina, Tuesday morning, October 21st, surrounded by his loving family. Born August 31, 1922 in Mullins, Dr. Garner was a son of the late Reverend James Samuel Garner, Jr. and Margaret Frances Brown Garner. He graduated from Bennettsville High School in 1939, The Citadel with a BS degree in Science and Pre-medicine in 1943, and the Medical University of South Carolina with a MD degree in 1946. While at The Citadel, he served as a Bond Volunteer his junior year and was a member of the Summerall Guards his senior year. Dr. Garner received his residency and internship training at Garfield Memorial Hospital in Washington, DC, where he met and married Mary Elizabeth Arnold. Dr. Garner served in the United States Army as a 1st Lt. Medical Officer in Guam, Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Fort Monroe, VA, from January 1948 – December 1949, and in January 1950 opened his family practice in Mullins. On March 15, 2013, he quietly retired at the age of 91. Throughout his career Dr. Garner was involved in many organizations. He was a member of the medical staff of Mullins Hospital, where he served three years as Chief of Staff, was a member, president, and delegate of the Marion County Medical Society, a counselor and trustee of the South Carolina Medical Association, member of the Southern Medical Association, on the Board of Directors and President (1972-73) of the South Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, a delegate to the American Academy of Family Physicians, and on the State Board of Medical Examiners from 1986-1994. In 1978, Dr. Garner was the first recipient of the Family Physician of the Year award. He was also a charter diplomate of the American Board Family Practice, as well as a charter Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Garner served faithfully as Deacon, Elder, and Trustee of Mullins Presbyterian Church, and in 2012 was honored by being named Elder Emeritus. Dr. Jim’s greatest joys were in his family. He was always interested and involved in many activities of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was so very proud of his four grandsons and all of their accomplishments. He loved sitting on the dock at Fork Retch and riding in the boat on the Little Pee Dee River. Dr. Jim rarely missed a Citadel football game and loved the tailgating and fellowship with old and new friends there. A favorite place for Dr. Jim was the family cottage in Montreat, NC. He loved sitting on the porch listening to the wind and pitter-patter of the rain on the roof, while sharing his childhood remembrances of growing up in the Presbyterian retreat. Some of his teenage antics especially sparked lots of laughter from the family. At five o’clock every morning, you could find Dr. Jim at Fred’s in Mullins, having breakfast and coffee with all the regulars who talked about the past, the present, and the future. One of Dr. Jim’s greatest delights was to be able to tell a joke that would invariably bring a chuckle to the listener. In addition to his parents, Dr. Jim was predeceased by the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth Arnold Garner. Surviving Dr. Garner is a son, Dr. James S. “Sandy” Garner IV and his wife, Arden of Mullins; a daughter, Frances Ann Holmes and her husband, Randy of Ponce Inlet, Florida; a brother, Francis Brown Garner and his wife, Bobbie of Big Canoe, Georgia; four grandchildren, James “Jay” S. Garner V (Whitney) of Murrells Inlet, Dr. Thomas Ross Garner of Denton, Texas, Randal Scott Holmes II (Jennifer) of Cudjoe Key, Florida, and James Allen Holmes of Spanish Fork, Utah; six great-grandchildren, Pressley Anne Garner, James Samuel Garner VI, Caroline Alston Holmes, Randal Scott “Trey” Holmes III, Scheldin Leland Holmes, and Trevor James Holmes. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Thursday, October 23, 2014 in the sanctuary of Mullins Presbyterian Church. Funeral service will be at 3:00 p.m. Friday, October 24th at the church. Burial will follow in Devotion Gardens. Memorials may be made to Mullins Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 671, Mullins, SC 29574 or to Wildlife Action, P.O. Box 866, Mullins, SC 29574. An online guestbook is available at mearesfh.com.
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