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John L. Tanner Sr.

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Atkins High School

John Tanner Obituary

Mr. John L. Tanner Sr. of 2513 Stokes Ave., Winston-Salem, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005, at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. He was born Nov. 28, 1926, in Forsyth County. He was the son of Eugene Tanner Sr. and Marie Cunningham Tanner. Mr. Tanner graduated from Atkins High School, and he served in the Korean War. He started his singing career with the Royal Sons, and later began singing with the Five Royales, a popular R&B group in the '50s and '60s that traveled extensively around the country. Some of their hits were "Dedicated to the One I Love," "Please, Please, Please," and "Someone Made You for Me." He held several honors, including an induction into the R&B Hall of Fame in Raleigh, a special tribute with a street in Winston-Salem being named for the Five Royales, and a tribute/dedication held in Charlotte. Mr. Tanner was a former employee of Centenary United Methodist Church. Preceding him in death were two brothers, Arthur McGee and Eugene Tanner Jr.; and a sister, Azalee Hunter. He is survived by his wife, Cornelia Fuiell Tanner; four children, John L. Tanner Jr. (Margretta), Calvin L. Tanner (Vivian), Denise Tanner Hughes and Willard B. Tanner (Lizzie); three brothers, Purnell Tanner (Mildred), David L. Tanner and Dr. Fredrick D. Tanner (Dorothy); six grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Eloyse White, of Portsmouth, Ohio; and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be conducted at noon Friday, Nov. 11, at St. John CME Church, 350 Crawford Place, Winston-Salem, with the Rev. Bobby Best officiating. Interment will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens. Family visitation will be held from 11:30 a.m. to noon at the church. The family will assemble and leave from the home of the daughter, Denise Tanner Hughes, 186 Luzelle Drive. Online condolences may be made at www.russellfuneralservice.com (Russell)

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Winston-Salem Journal on Nov. 10, 2005.

Memories and Condolences
for John Tanner

28 Entries

RUBY CAIN AND THE CAIN FAMILY

November 18, 2005

WILLARD (LIZ) AND THE TANNER FAMILY,

WHAT HAVE I TO DREAD, WHAT HAVE I TO FEAR,LEANING ON THE EVERLASTING ARMS?

I HAVE BLESSED PEACE WITH MY LORD SO NEAR,

LEANING ON THE EVERLASTING ARMS.

HE RESTS WELL WHO RESTS IN JESUS.

MAY GOD BLESS AND KEEP EACH OF YOU IN HIS CARE IN THE DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS AND YEARS TO COME AS YOU HOLD DEAR IN YOUR HEARTS MEMORIES OF THE GOOD TIMES YOU SHARED TOGETHER.

PEACE AND GOD'S RICHEST BLESSINGS,

REV. BENNIE PLOWDEN

November 16, 2005

MAY GOD BLESS THE TANNER FAMILY AND KEEP THEM EACH AND EVERY DAY

john tanner jr

November 13, 2005

Dad, Pops, Granddaddy and Great Granddaddy.

From the bottom of our hearts we love you and miss you, but knowing that you died in Christ and living forever will help us ease some of our pain, but know this for sure that our love will last forever and an eternity until we meet and see you eating from the tree of life. Until we all see you again, our love forever and always and "don't you forget it"(smile).

Your Children,

John Jr. Margie, Deana, John III, Juanita and Alexandria.

Alvis Moore

November 12, 2005

What a legacy! As a boy I grew up admiring the great voices of Uncle John and Uncle June. My love and my prayers are with you. If I had known earlier, I would have attended the services in place of my dad, James Moore. On November 19th, when I record a live album, there will be a song dedicated to Uncle John. I will send it to you.

Love in Christ, forever

Alvis Moore

James Moore (Cedar Manor)

Evelyn Moore

Vanette McCree

November 12, 2005

Sorry for your lost. My prayers are with you and your family. You're not alone he sits high and looks low.

Love,

Van

Aldrenia Gaither

November 12, 2005

Willard,

My deepest sympathy to you and your enire family at the lost of your Dad.

Good Bless and keep each of you.

Cynthia Perry

November 11, 2005

My deepest sympathy

Lee & Cheryl Byerly

November 11, 2005

Our Thoughts and Prayers are with You and Your Family. May God Bless!!

Marjorie Williams Burris

November 11, 2005

To Willard Tanner and Family:

Our prayers are with all of you. May God's comfort be with you. Always remember his joy, music, love and humor. He is not dead, only sleeping in God's loving arms.

Marjorie, Christian and Candice

Sallie Ledbetter

November 11, 2005

Just want you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Your husband, father, brother, grandfather, and friend brought great joy to the members of St. John CME Church through not only music but with his wonderful, kind personality, too. Mr. Tanner will truly be missed.

Kay Booze

November 11, 2005

Dear Family of John,

John Tanner was my co-worker at Centenary United Methodist Church for many years. In fact he and I retired at the same time, but of course that was his second retirement! We all loved him, and I am thankful for his friendship and constant source of inspiration.

We had many serious conversations, especially after John's first illness. I know he was not afraid to die, but still he wanted to live and be with his family as long as he could.

Some of our most special memories at Centenary are the times he and Jacqui Nelson agreed to have programs for the Older Adult luncheons. John agreed to be in the "choir" when we had a retirement party for the retiring business manager, Mary Lib Harper. Many times during staff devotions I would stop singing and just listen to John's beautiful voice. And, of course, I was proud when he gave me a Five Royales record that had just been reproduced.

John let me do an interview when I needed a paper for school (around 1992). This is how I learned that the group was stranded in Dallas after November 22,1963. He told me that after that, he said "good-bye" to the group because he felt he should be at home, helping his wife raise the family.

I was late reading the paper yesterday, and was so sorry to hear of John's passing. We're going to really miss him! He was a wonderful friend.

John and I had a contest each summer to see who would get the first ripe tomato. He usually planted later than I did, but somehow always got the first tomato. I attribute his success to what he called "the rain." He would point to the sky and say, "That's the rain up there." I didn't call him this summer to see how his tomatoes were doing; now I think that maybe he was not able to have his garden.

My deepest sympathy to the family. All I can say is that I know he loved you dearly and was loyal and proud of you. You are in my thoughts and prayers, especially today as you honor and remember John at his beloved church.

Sincerely, Kay W. Booze

Rhonda & Levaughn Miller

November 11, 2005

To Denise Hughes and family, may God give you the strength to endure your time of bereavement.We must remember that weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. God bless you all. Rhonda &Levaughn Miller co-worker and paper carrier.

LARRY HARVEY

November 11, 2005

DENISE HUGHES/ YOU ANDTHE FAMILY BE ENCOURGED BECAUSE JOY COMING IN THE MORNING.MY PRAYERS

Sharon Reid

November 11, 2005

To Denise and Tamara, and "Grannie" and the whole Tanner Family. stay strong, you are in my prayers.

linda young

November 11, 2005

denise hughes- my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family doing the passing of your father , joy comes in the morning god be with you for comfort. linda young

VERNICE ALEXANDER

November 11, 2005

Denise,we will keep you and your Family in our thoughts and prayers.God will give strength to go on.

Rev. Edna West

November 10, 2005

My heartfelt prayers are with you the family as you say so long to the patriarch. Heaven has gained an singing angel and he will be surely missed. May God continue to keep you all in His keeping and remember to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

Because of Calvary,

Rev. Edna West & Family

Willard & Liz Tanner

November 10, 2005

Dad,

We will miss that great sense of humor you had whenever we got together. We shall always remember the beautiful voice you shared with many people. You have truly left a legacy behind as I will continue to share my talent with others. We bid you sweet rest dad.

Your loving baby boy and his wife!

Hattie Jeter

November 10, 2005

Thoes who bloom in the hearts of others, never fade a-way. may you find comfort and strength in your memories. i am praying for you.

Hattie andColeman Jeter

Henrietta Hodge

November 10, 2005

To Willard Tanner and Family

I cannot say, and I will not say, that he is dead, he's just gone away. Gone to a place where there will be no more sickness.

Remember, God is too wise to make a mistake and too just to do anything wrong.

You are in our prayers.

The Settles and Hodge Family

Henrietta, Diane, June and Al

Patrice Webster

November 10, 2005

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Tanner family. Mr. Tanner attended my church where he never failed to bless all of us with his wonderful singing. I am going to miss this man so much. There is a song "The Other Shore" that he sang and it will always remind me of him. Mr. Tanner, the pain is over now.There is no more crying and no more weeping. Your troubles are definitely gone. You have finally reached the other shore.

Hattie Jeter

November 10, 2005

Thoes who bloom in the hearts of others.never fade a-way.

may you find strenght and comfort in your memories. my prayers are

with your Family.

Coleman and Hattie Jeter.

Patricia Lynch-Herring

November 10, 2005

May God bless and keep you family

always.

Hattie Jeter

November 10, 2005

may the warm memories of your dear

one, help you be at peace, during this difficult time.

my prayers are with you.

Edna Clark

Hattie Jeter

November 10, 2005

Thoes who bloom in the hearts of others.never fade a-way.may you find

comfort and strength in your memories. to Cornelia Williard and

the entire Tanner Family.

Hattie and Coleman Jeter.

Eddie Huffman

November 10, 2005

Farewell to a fine man and great singer. I interviewed Mr. Tanner for a story I wrote about the "5" Royales for Goldmine magazine in 1993, and found him to be a kind, gracious man with a good sense of humor. He was one of the greatest R&B singers of the '50s, and he will be missed.

Tell all the stars above

This is dedicated to the one I love

john tannner jt

November 10, 2005

To a kind,loving and nurturing father. Dad you will be greatly missed.

Love Always,

Your Son John L. Tanner Jr.

DIANN thomas

November 10, 2005

MAY GOD FOREVER BLESS AND KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH AND WILL FOREVER KEEP YOU HELD UP IN OUR PRAYERS.LOVE YOU BOOT,DIANN,PUNKIN AND SHERRIE.

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