TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
to Varner. In 1998, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (SIAC) inducted Varner into its Hall of Fame, and in 2010, FVSU added Varner to its Hall of Fame. He was a life member of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Among other endeavors, he found time to remain active with various ministries of his church, the Peach County Retired Educators Association, and the Fred Douglas Lodge #143 F & AM., Prince Hall Affiliated. Varner was an active
member of Fred Douglas Lodge #143 F & AM., PHA for over 50 years, and was honored by the Lodge for that accomplishment on April 1, 2017, with an elegant recognition/cel- ebration banquet at Fort Valley State University Pet- tigrew Center. He received his 50-year pin for 50 continuous years of mem- bership with the Lodge and a Life Membership plaque. The Lodge also established a scholarship in his name at Fort Valley State Univer- sity. He served as Assistant Secretary for over 20 years. Varner participated
in many of the Masonic Lodge’s community outreach programs, such as issuing fruit baskets and Christmas cards to Fort Valley Health Care Center residents and Virginia Gardens Assisted Living Center on Christmas Day. In 2018, he received a Certificate of Apprecia- tion from Peach County Retired Educators, and in 2019, and he also received an Emeritus Plaque from Georgia. Brother Alphono B. Varner is predeceased by his first wife, the late Juanita (nee Edwards)
Varner; daughters Denise V. Jackson, Gina Varner, and Wanda Chambers; and one granddaughter, Tracie McNabb. He also had four sisters and one brother who preceded him in death. He is survived by loving wife, Mrs. Maggie L. Varner, their daughters: Desiree V. (Samuel) O’Bryant and Brenda Henley; five grand- children: Thaddeus (Lisa) Jackson, Lagwana Brown, Lelita (Antonio) Fuller, Jerrell Howard, Frances O’Bryant; ten great grand- children and a host of loving and caring nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends. ♦
SPRING 2024 ♦ THE JOURNAL 53
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