John Elson Tanner

John Elson Tanner was born on October 26, 1925 in Hazlehurst Mississippi to the Union of Martin Tanner Sr. and Evangeline Tanner, who have both preceded him in death. John was the second born of four Sons; his older Brother Martin preceded him in death.

John accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age at Wesley Chapel AME Methodist Church, in Hazlehurst Mississippi. He enjoyed fishing and hunting with his Father and Brothers as a young man.

After enlisting with the United States Navy and serving in World War II, John then graduated from Jackson State Veteran High School and he then went on to Jackson State College. There he met the love of his life, Elaine Shirley White. They eloped on February 3, 1948 and were happily married for 67 years. To this Union were born two Children, one Daughter Margaret Smallwood and one Son George Tanner Sr.

John and his Family moved to California in 1957. He was a lifelong resident of San Bernardino. John worked 31 years for the United States Postal Service before he retired.

John was a generous, humble and selfless man. He demonstrated these traits again and again through his interactions with Family, Friends, Neighbors and (Strangers) those he met on the street. He was the perfect gentleman to anyone he came across.

John not only loved spending time with his Family but doing for them as well; whether it was cooking Breakfast (his favorite meal of the day), picking up Grandchildren from school, washing cars, running errands or taking cars to be serviced. In John’s spare time he enjoyed watching a good Western, seeing his San Francisco 49ers score a touchdown or his San Francisco Giants hit a homerun. He was also an avid collector of coins, hub caps and miniature cars.

On November 3, 2015, John was called to rest. He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving Wife Elaine Tanner, his Daughter Margaret Smallwood, his Son George Tanner Sr., four Grandchildren; Gia Darby, George Tanner Jr., Ashley Tanner and Amber White, eight Great Grandchildren, one Great-Great Grandchild, two Brothers Hugh Porter Tanner Sr. of San Bernardino, California and Ben Tanner Sr. of Hazlehurst, Mississippi and a host of Nephews, Nieces, Cousins and Friends.