Edwin Garner
Wood Craftsman, Author

Edwin Garner has worked with wood for over 75 years. His career began when he was 8-9 years old as a necessity; he made his own toys. His uncle, a professional cabinet builder and finish carpenter, was his mentor. Throughout the years, Garner has worked with wood in all levels of difficulty. After he married, he built kitchen cabinets and did home renovations. Being a farmer always called for carpentry skills in construction of farm buildings.

As a carpenter in the late 1960’s, Garner helped build what is now known as Turney Center Prison located in Only, TN. When he retired from public business, he set up a wood shop in his backyard where he made wood crafting projects, such as glass display cases, plaques, children’s stools, and bird houses, just to name a few.

Garner began wood-turning in 2002 after being introduced to the wood lathe by a lady from Iowa. This would be the beginning of his addiction in making a variety of ballpoint pens from various substances, such as acrylic, deer antler and special kinds of wood. In addition, he would handcraft a gift wood cases for the pens. The process to make the pens required special jigs, which he invented and made in the shop.

“A Special Pen for a Special Person” was Garner’s logo statement. His pens are scattered across the U.S. and in France. After 21 years of wood-turning and making a variety of items, the wood shop has been retired due to the health of the master carpenter.

Garner is a lifetime member of the Hickman County Arts and Crafts Guild, where he has served as president and vice president. He has been married to Georgia for over 60 years and have two children. When he is not enjoying his family, he enjoys bird watching.

BACK