William David Garner, 72, proud native of McComb, MS, passed away the evening of June 3, 2024, at North Oaks Hospital in Hammond, LA. Bill was surrounded by his loving family in his last moments.

Visitation will be on Tuesday June 11th at 1:00 PM at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, where Bill's grandparents were founding parishioners. The service will directly follow at 2:00 PM. Fr. Suresh Thirumalareddy will officiate and burial will be in Hollywood Cemetery.

Bill Garner, an only child, was born in McComb on October 16th, 1951, to Samuel Robert Garner and the colorful Carolyn Elizabeth Lyons Garner. Both parents were also multi-generational Pike County residents. Sam worked for MP&L, and Carolyn worked at First Guaranty Bank, then Trustmark. Prior to Bill's birth, his parents were notoriously first to arrive at parties – and last to leave.

Bill attended school in his formative years at St. Alphonsus, and then transitioned to Denman Junior High where he goofed off, skipped a good bit of school, and made a ton of life-long friends. Then he met the love of his life, Monica Long. In 1969, Bill graduated from Camellia City's Gibson High School, married Monica, and welcomed their only son, Christopher David.

Bill began work at the Enterprise Journal, while studying at Copiah Lincoln Jr. College, and eventually found a rewarding career in medical laboratory sciences, before transitioning to medical sales. Their second child, Greta Gayle, was born in 1975.

Bill began what would be his most passionate lifetime career – working as an independent insurance representative, in which he retired only two short years ago. He started multiple companies in McComb, and helped many people tirelessly through fires, hurricanes, and crises.

Despite being an only child, Bill was blessed with an extended family, including his Garner and Lyons aunts, uncles, and cousins, and in particular his cousin, Steve Blue, who he often referred to as his brother. When Bill married Monica, he had instant siblings he loved, Jay, Robin, and Pam Long. He was adored by Monica's parents, JN "Jimmy" (long time circulation manager at the Enterprise Journal) and her sweet, sassy mother, Nelda Long.

Between the ages of 5 and 15, Bill was known as "Angel", as a local Dixie League Baseball star. He was nicknamed this because his boisterous daddy exclaimed, "That's my lil angel!!" when Bill hit one of his many home runs. He was a pitcher, a slugger, an all-star who was always quick on his feet. Later in life, he shifted successfully to golf, where he served for years as president of the Lakeview Mens Golf Association, and even proudly aced a couple of holes-in-one. He also found time to coach both his children in baseball, and Monica's younger brothers in basketball. Always loving life on a boat, Bill could barefoot ski with the best of them. He was an excellent captain and navigator. He was also a daredevil on a diving board and could nail a front and a backflip off the most rickety of spring diving boards.

Bill was very active in his civic duties in McComb. He cherished his time working with the Boys and Girls Club, acting as Southwest Mississippi Community College's foundation president, being an advocate on the board of the housing authority, and supporting his church on the Knights of Columbus for decades.

Bill could remember things that only robots can. Who you were, who your parents were, your cousins, your aunts/uncles that you may or may not have remembered yourself, what street and block you grew up on (and your parents/grandparents' addresses), the years and dates of countless things... and then being able to say.... "It was a Wednesday", when recollecting dated memories. He was everyone's reference to all things 'gone but not forgotten'.

Bill was a happy man. He told golden, hilarious stories. His wit was unmatched; he was always funny, smiling, cunning, and full of life. King inventor of one-liners, he was blessed to have many close friends of his own as well as Monica's best friends, a harem of ladies, that adored him. He was the magic puller-of-teeth of all of his close friends' children. AKA the "Peanut Man", he also talked the tooth fairy into being more than generous.

He leaves behind his soul mate and wife, Monica; his son, Chris and his beautiful children: Simmons Ann, Sam, and Grace; his daughter Greta, her husband Eric, daughter Anna Gayle Hudson, and son Jonah Lyons Flynt; his beloved cousin Steve Blue and his family; Robin and Sharon Long and family; Pam and David Smith and their family. Not to forget, his other "brother" Jack.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Carolyn Garner; his in-laws Jimmy and Nelda Long and their son Jay Long; his friend and priest Fr. Brian Kaskie; and his close friends Tommy Daughdrill, Tal Braddock, Barry Hart, Frank Campbell, Rayford Burris, PD Carlisle, Lynn Troutman, and Mary Beth Miller, among others.

The family is eternally grateful for the support from Fr. Suresh and all of Bill's fellow parishioners at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, North Oaks Hospital and its amazing staff, thanks to the staff at Fresenius, Bill's great medical team in McComb: Dr. Alexandra Price, Dr. Christos Kasapis, Dr. William Dixon, Dr. Paul Dykes and so many more at SMRMC.

The family cannot thank you all enough and tell you how supportive you have been to Bill and the whole Garner clan throughout these last couple of years.

In lieu of flowers, please donate generously to the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest MS. 1025 The Positive Place McComb, MS 39648 www.bgcswms.org