Patty Chapman

Mrs. Patricia Chapman Garner, age 73 of Sandersville, passed away at her residence on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Sandersville First Baptist Church, with burial following in Brownwood Cemetery. Reverend Andy Carter and Reverend Lee Lacey will officiate. Pallbearers will be Stan Garner, John Mark Tanner, Eddie Turner, Bob West, Wade Dawson, John Mosley, and Gary Bussell. The family will receive friends on Friday, May 26, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at May and Smith Funeral Home. Mrs. Garner was born in Columbia, South Carolina, the daughter of the late Louis Andrew Chapman and the late Thelma Lou Hodges Chapman. She obtained her master’s degree in nursing from Georgia College and State University. Mrs. Garner was very passionate about her nursing career and devoted herself to making sure that all nursing homes under her care were run efficiently. She also found opportunities to serve as a nurse in missionary work in Ghana, West Africa, and through Carpenters for Christ. Mrs. Garner enjoyed working with flowers, especially creating arrangements for every occasion from the flowers in her greenhouse. She also found much pleasure in spending time camping in the mountains and riding motorcycles with her husband Billy. Mrs. Garner was gifted and talented in many ways and was even a State Champion Sharpshooter. She loved people but her greatest love was for her family, and she cherished the time she spent with them above all else. Mrs. Garner was a member of Olive Hill Baptist Church and a Worthy Matron in the Order of the Eastern Star. She had previously worked with Dr. James Baugh in Milledgeville. Mrs. Garner is survived by her loving husband, Billy Garner; son, Michael Carey Franklin and his wife Candice of Sandersville; daughter, Tricia Franklin Huff and her husband Phillip of Milledgeville; grandson, D. J. Wall of Milledgeville; brothers, Ted Chapman and his wife Gudrun of Atlanta, Henry Chapman and his wife Shirley of Tennille, and David Chapman of Sandersville; step-children; step-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to the Sandersville First Baptist Church’s Ghana Fund, 316 Mathis Circle, Sandersville, GA 31082. Condolences may be made online at www.mayandsmithfuenraldirectors.com May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.

Patty Chapman

December 17, 1949 - May 24, 2023