Obituary of Eunice Tanner

Eunice “Jo” Tanner, 73, returned to her heavenly home on May 25, 2023 after a valiant battle with a long illness. Her devotion to her loved ones and her firm belief in God supported her in her struggle and ultimately gave her peace.

Eunice was born to the late Helen Ruth Pipkin and Herbet Ridgen, in Concord, North Carolina on November 6, 1949. She was immersed in the Christian community that would be her lifelong support from an early age. She taught Sunday School to young children, participated in church choir, and performed sign language for the hearing impaired for many years as an adult. She graduated from Brookland-Cayce High School in 1993. She went on to complete a course in writing at Midlands Technical College.

Eunice was blessed with a large and loving family. She married her late husband, on February 27, 1967 in Darlington, SC. Eunice birthed 3 children of her own and also helped raise 3 stepchildren. She raised them in a Christian home and taught them the Bible, and often took them on family trips to Silver Lake, Carowinds, the skating rink, the park, and to the movies. From the very beginning, she dedicated her children to God and encouraged them to explore the beauty of the gospels.

Eunice was kind and soft-spoken, and always had time to help a brother or sister in Christ in need, as well as those who didn’t believe. She carpooled countless adults and children to church over five decades. She always had a hand held out in offering of help or prayer. She is dearly missed by her loved ones, who celebrate the fact that she is at peace with her Creator.

Eunice is survived by her children and stepchildren: Greg Tanner (Susan), Helen Melcher (Paul), Teresa Martin (Johnny), Chris Tanner (Madeline), Lynn Flowers (Ricky), and Bryan Tanner (Beth); her sisters, Peggy Vicars (Harold) and Betty Corbin (Sam); her grandchildren: Lisa Marie Brown, Rhiannon Tanner, Amanda Askins, Lauren Melcher, Jonathan Tanner, Laban Tanner, Victoria Taylor, Melissa Tanner-Ipock, Tiffany Tanner, Criss Flowers Braddock, and Becca Gould; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.   

She is preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Jerry Tanner; her parents, Helen Ruth Pipkin (John) and Herbert Ridgen (Bessie); her brother, John E. Orr, Sr (Carolyn Orr).

Eunice will have a homecoming memorial service at the West Columbia First Church of the Nazarene. Visitation to pay respects to the family will be at 12:30 pm and the service, officiated by Pastor Bill Harmon, will begin at 1:00 pm on June 10, 2023, with a reception to follow at her life home on Finlay Dr., West Columbia, SC, where they will gratefully receive flowers and donations as well. Prayers, condolences and memories are gladly accepted at ww.thompsonsfuneral.com