Mary Louise Tanner was born in Paducah, Kentucky, the only child
of Dinella Davis and Benjamin Wilford. She attended Paducah public
schools and graduated from Western Kentucky Teacher's College.
She and her husband, the late Robert E. Tanner and their eight
children moved to Champaign in 1958.
Mrs. Tanner became a mother figure to countless children throughout
the community. For 15 years, she worked at Adler Zone Center with
neglected and abused children who had moderate to severe behavioral
problems and was a calming and positive influence on them. She
helped these children learn to read, write and most importantly,
believe they could be successful, productive citizens. Later,
after Adler closed, Mrs. Tanner started her own business and operated
a day care facility that cared for almost 200 children for over
18 years. Many of the children that she cared for, still send
cards, letters and gifts and many parents have come back to say
"thank you."
Active in the Champaign schools, Salem Baptist Church and community
for many years, Mrs. Tanner still hasn't retired. She still delivers
Thanksgiving food baskets to the elderly, has served hot meals
to the homeless from her own kitchen and has become a licensed
foster parent.
Her own children are now grown and she's a proud grandmother of
21 and a great-grandmother of 30.
Mary Louise Tanner
)
denotes original charter members of the Champaign County Section
of the National Council of Negro Women.