Mable Tecola Garner, M.D., 86, of Indianola, passed away Friday, Feb. 16, 2018 at UMMC in Jackson. She was the third of nine children born to Rev. Jerry and Annie Bell Garner.
Dr. Garner completed elementary school in Canton, Miss., and graduated with honors from Lincoln High School in Evansville, Ind. She enrolled at Fisk University in Nashville, where she was recognized for her many academic achievements, also graduating with honors. After teaching one summer session of elementary school, she matriculated at Nashville’s Meharry Medical College. Graduating with honors, she became an instructor at Meharry and continued her studies, becoming a pathologist. Dr. Garner later practiced in Greenwood, Port Gibson and Fayette, Miss., and in Cleveland, Ohio.
While in Cleveland she met and married Howard Siggers and to that union one child was born.
During Mississippi’s civil rights movement, when Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer was severely beaten while jailed, Dr. Garner was brave enough to enter the jail to treat Mrs. Hamer’s wounds.
Dr. Garner was instrumental in organizing the Delta Sigma Theta sorority chapter at Mississippi Valley State University.
The family will receive friends Friday, Feb. 23, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Byas Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements. A family hour will follow from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church. Funeral services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Shaw, with Father Peter Nquyen officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Memorial Gardens, Indianola.
Dr. Garner is preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Sallie Ruth Sisson; and her brother, Jerry L. Garner.
She is survived by her son, Wendell Siggers of Horn Lake; four sisters, Catherine Wortham of Evansville, Ind., Helen Randall (Ike) of Harvey, Il., Gladys Kendrick of Lynwood, Ill. and Maggie Barnes-Campbell (Louis) of Indianola; and two brothers, George Garner (Neilda) of Chattanooga, Tenn. and Charles Garner (Gloria) of Chicago. She also leaves many loving nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, a special and long-time family friend Rev. Herron Wilson, and her church family of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Shaw.
