Merrel and Martha Banner of Hoschton celebrated their 50th anniversary on Sept. 24, 2010. A golden anniversary party held in their honor at Luna's in Gainesville was given by their daughter Lisa Banner O'Connor, daughter and son-in-law Maria and Alan Cleveland, daughter and son-in-law Sonja and Jim Bullard and sister and brother-in-law BJ and Stewart Martin.

The couple have three children and seven grandchildren.