In Memoriam: Joan Garner, NACo Health Policy Chair

Health care champion Joan Garner served NACo, Fulton County since 2011 

Joan Garner, NACo Health Policy Steering Committee chair, and vice chair, Fulton County, Ga. Board of Commissioners, died April 18 after a lengthy battle with breast cancer. She was 65.

Garner joined the Fulton County Board in 2011 and quickly gained a reputation as a leading advocate for health care. “She worked tirelessly to fight against health disparities and became our executive sponsor of the All People Are Healthy priority area,” Fulton County Chairman John H. Eaves said. She also, along with Chairman Eaves, founded the Fulton County Task Force on HIV/AIDS and spearheaded other health initiatives.  “We will miss her thoughtful service, her passion for equity and especially, her smile and her warmth,” he said.

Garner became active in the association representing Georgia’s counties, ACCG, where she was a member of ACCG’s Policy Committee and at the time of her death was serving as its third vice president.

“Commissioner Garner was a great person that people just enjoyed being around,” said Elbert County Commissioner and ACCG President Tommy Lyon.  “She put her heart and soul into everything that she did — including ACCG.   She is truly going to be missed.”

The week before her death, Fulton County commissioners and ACCG leaders honored Garner by announcing that a conference room at the county’s new health building would be named after her, and that a scholarship in her name was being established to support students interested in county government, and health and human services.

In addition to her leadership on NACo’s Health Steering Committee, Garner was a member and past chair of NACo’s Healthy Counties Initiative Advisory Board, an alumnus of the County Leadership Institute and a member of the LUCC Steering Committee, Resilient Counties Advisory Board, Arts and Culture Commission, Programs and Services Standing Committee and Women of NACo Leadership Network.

“Commissioner Garner was an incredible class act and true public servant,” NACo Executive Director Matt Chase said.

Individuals who would like to contribute to the Honorable Joan P. Garner Health & Human Services Internship Fellowship Program may send their donations to:  ACCG Civic Affairs Foundation, 191 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 700, Atlanta, GA  30303.  Please write “Joan Garner Internship” in the memo line. 

Joan Garner was born in Washington, D.C. and moved to Fulton County in 1978. She earned a bachelor of arts in English from the University of the District of Columbia and a master’s degree in organizational communication from Howard University. She was active in the Atlanta community long before she was elected to the Board of Commissioners. She was president and CEO of the Historic District Development Corporation, had served on the transition team for Mayor Maynard Jackson and as a senior advisor on gay and lesbian issues during his administration. She also served on the Atlanta Olympic Citizen’s Advisory Commission, and was on numerous boards ranging from the Atlanta Beltline Affordable Housing to Southerners on New Ground.

A memorial service will be held May 6, at 3 p.m., at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.