Mary Louise Tanner

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.