Mavis "Mema" (Howell) Tanton

Mavis H. Tanton, affectionately known as “Mema”, passed away on Friday, November 27, 2020.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, November 30, 2020, at Dublin Memorial Gardens. Rev. Hugh Spivey will officiate. She will lie in state at Townsend Brothers Funeral Home on Sunday, November 29, 2020, from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM for family and friends to drop in and pay their respects.

Mrs. Tanton was a lifelong resident of Dublin, Georgia, and a graduate of Dublin High School. She worked for 18 years at Morris State Bank before fulfilling her dream of opening a home daycare. She operated her daycare for over 30 years and became “MeMa” to more than 300 children. Mrs. Tanton had a servant’s heart and faithfully served in ministry by her husband’s side as a pastor’s wife, Women’s Ministry Leader, and Sunday School teacher. She also loved to sing and enjoyed singing on the Tell it to Jesus Radio and T.V. Show, and also with the gospel group, Faith Singers. Mrs. Tanton was an avid member of Dublin Church of God, serving over the years in many capacities including singing in the choir, where she often performed solos. Everyone knew that Jesus and her family were Mema’s most prized possessions and she will be deeply missed by all who loved her.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 55 years, Rev. Bennett M. “Benny” Tanton; parents, Bloyce and Verna Scarbrough Howell; brother, Larry Howell, and grandson, Tommy Kelly.

Survivors include her children, Benita (Ray) Reese of Fitzgerald, Melisa Waller of Dublin, and Darrell Tanton of Dublin; grandchildren, Amanda (Brant) Phelps, of Jesup, Lindsey (Josh) Barron, of Augusta, and Dusty (TJ) Henderson, Devin Henderson (Harliee), and C. J. Waller, all of Dublin, Heather Kelly, of Texas, and Brooke Warnock (Dylan), and Grant Waid, both of Dublin; 6 great-grandchildren; brothers, Billy Howell (Jeanette) and Jimmy Howell; sisters, Bobbie Scott, Linda Bentley, and Sandy Scrensky (Tom), and a host of nieces and nephews.

The family will be receiving friends at MeMa’s House, 404 Sunny Lane, Dublin, GA. Townsend Brothers Funeral Home and Staff respectfully ask all in attendance to follow social distancing guidelines.

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