Tessie Lydia Amedee Garner was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 27, 1922 to Victoria Cook Amedee and Benjamin Harrison Amedee. They moved to Chicago when she was two months old.
Tessie attended Willard Elementary School, DuSable High School, Wilson Jr. College, Roosevelt University, audiometric training at the University of Illinois (Urbana) and was employed by the Chicago Public Schools for thirty years.
In 1942 she married her high school friend, Frank Allen Garner. They were married for 74 years and had two children, Frank Jr and Lydia Eula.
In 1955 the family joined Salem Lutheran Church; were actively involved in choir, scouting, acolytes and wherever else needed. She volunteered two years with the Chicago Hearing Society and fifteen years with La Rabida Hospitals’ babies.
Tess had a great deal of pleasure sewing, playing bridge for about twenty five years, sailing with Frank and being a member of Jackson Park Yacht Club.
In 2003 they moved to the Villages. Tess joined Rock of Ages ELCA and has been happy with the minister and the welcoming and warm members.
