Jerry Garner

TSGT Jearld D. Garner of Pinellas Park, FL, passed away peacefully on December 15th with his loving family by his side at the C. W. Bill Young Medical Center, in Bay Pines, FL.  He was born December 19th, 1941, to Clifford and Claudie Garner in Springville, AL.  He attended Oneonta High School.  After graduation, he joined the United States Air Force and after 20 years of service he retired.  During his enlistment, he received several awards, including the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal as well as the Bronze Star Medal. 

 He graduated from PTEC with a culinary art degree and was a chef at Spoto’s restaurant briefly.  Jerry worked at the City of Pinellas Park for almost 22 years. He served on the Budget Advisory Committee, was past President of the Holiday Parade, was nominated into the Kiwanis Club in 2007, elected to the Executive Board of AFSCME Local 762 and was involved with the Pinellas Historical Society.  Jerry was also Public Works Employee of the Year, Citizen of the Year and received the Lifetime City Ambassador award. 

 Jerry, along with Bill Mischler and Russ Schibler helped organize “People Helping People”. This organization has done so much for the Pinellas Park community.  He also helped with Hurricane Andrew relief, Relay for Life, the Fishing Derby, U.S. Postal Letter Carriers annual drive, and many other events.  Jerry was always serving up smoked mullet, turkey legs, blooming onions and curly fries at the Sacred Heart Festival.  He also cooked BBQ and was a judge at Country in the Park and helped his buddy Bart Diebold with the Public Works BBQ Cookoff/Rodeo.  Jerry and his buddies also prepared about 40 deep fried and smoked turkeys for council members, city employees, family and friends every year for Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

 Jerry is a local hero to his home community of Holly Springs, Alabama. He was instrumental in getting 4 Fire Engines and 2 EMS Ambulances from the City surplus donated to their Fire Department.  The House of Representatives in the state of Alabama recognized Jerry for his donation.  In November 2024 he was officially recognized as the first ever “Honorary Captain of the Holly Springs Fire Department”. Fire Chief Chris Hill and his wife, Vanessa, delivered the badge to him personally.  Vanessa remarked, “without Jerry, there would not be a Holly Springs Fire Department”.  One of the engines donated is now in a museum in Birmingham, AL. 

 Jerry began his 4th career at Taylor Funeral Home in 2003 where he worked for several years.

 Jerry along with his wife, donated and volunteered for their son’s adventure ministry, called Going the Distance Adventure Ministry.  Jerry and Ann helped raise money and volunteered their time to help this ministry grow.  They were the first recipients of the JAG award, named after them, “Jerry and Ann Garner”. They also received the GTD Legacy Award for their years of contributions, support and love.  

 If there were a bumper sticker on his van, it would read: “I’d Rather Be Helping Others”!  Jerry was known as the “Tomato Man” and handed out tomatoes, flashlights, and pens with “Ambassador Tomato Man” on them to everyone he met.

 Jerry was married to Ann for 59 years who predeceased him in 2022. He has a son, Doug Garner, daughter, Traci Vescovi , son-in-law, David, and grandson, Carson Vescovi.  He also had many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

 Jerry loved his family and enjoyed going to the Tampa Bay Rays baseball games, BBQing, fishing, watching On Patrol Live, NASCAR, and Alabama football games. Roll Tide Roll!

 A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, January 18th at 4:00pm at Park Place Wesleyan church, 4400 70th Avenue N, Pinellas Park, FL 33781. This service will be live streamed through Park Place Wesleyan Church for those unable to attend. His final resting place will be with his wife at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida a few days later for his immediate family.

 In memory of Jerry, his family requests donations to one of these organizations; People Helping People, Holly Springs Fire Department, Wings for Recovery or Going the Distance Adventure Ministry which were so close to his heart.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at https://taylorfamilyfuneralhome.com   and on Facebook; Taylor Funeral Home (Pinellas Park).