Gardner Obits
BETTY GARDNER
Aunt Bettie Gardner, the oldest person in No. 9 Township, died at her home last Tuesday after an illness of several months. Her death was caused by old age and while her age is not definitely known, it is presumed that she was somewhere near 105 years old. She has been living quietly at her home for many years and probably has not left the home but a very few times during the past quarter of a century. She was known far and wide during the days of her activity and she was a great aunt of the late Dr. O. P. Gardner, of Shelby.The body was interred in Pleasant Grove church grave year Wednesday with appropriate funeral exercises at the grave. Deceased was a good woman and served faithfully and well her day sad generation and her spirit has gone to the land of rest.
J.A. GARDNER DIES SUDDENLY
Prominent Contractor Succumbs to Attack - Funeral Services at Home Tomorrow Morning
John Alexander Gardner, 61, one of Charlotte's most prominent contractors and citizens, died suddenly this morning about 8 o'clock from heart trouble at his home, 1228 Elizabeth avenue.Mr. Gardner had been in ill health for some time but his death this morning came suddenly and unexpectedly. He was born in King's Mountain October 31, 1871 and had just celebrated his sixty-first birthday this week. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Pinkney Gardner of Kings Mountain.
One of the city's most prominent contractors, Mr. Gardner had charge of the building of a number of Charlotte's most imposing structures, including the Mecklenberg Hotel, the Stonewall Hotel, the First Baptist church and the Mayfair Manor. He had been in the contracting business in this city for about 25 years.
Suvivors include his widow, who was formerly Miss Myrtle Padgett; one son, J.A. Gardner; and two daughters, Mrs. Hall M. Johnston and Miss Betty Gardner, all of this city; and three sisters; Mrs. W. M. Sigmon, and Mrs. Henry Jordan, both of this city; and Mrs. Hunter Fayssoux of Salisbury.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock at the home with Dr. Luther Little, pastor of the First Baptist church, in charge. Burial will be made at Gastonia. Active pallbearers will be Ernest Overcasr, J.L. Talbert, Jr., E.C. Boyette, Jr., Milton Hood and R.M. Wearn. Honorary pallbearers will be J.H. McAden, William Hartey, S. Y. McAden, G. W. Wearn, Dr. J.Q. Myers, W. C. Petty, J.E. McIlwaine, Zeke Johnston, George I. Ray, James A. Stokes, Jesse Oldhan and Wilkins Cagle.
[Source: Obituary, The Charlotte Observer, 4 November 1932.]
LYDIA OLIVINE HORTON
Mrs. Lydia Olivine Horton, aged about 80 years, died at 5:40 o'clock in the morning the home of her son, J.B. Horton, Gastonia route 2. She had been in failing health for a year or more. Funeral services were held at the home at 4 o'clock this afternoon. Rev. W.J. Sprinkle, pastor the West End Baptist Church of Rock Hill, officiating. Interment was in Hollywood cemetery. Mrs. Horton was survived by the following children: J.B. Horton of Gastonia; G.C. and O.G. of Rock Hill; and Mrs. M.P. Rhyne of Dallas.
[Note: Lydia Olivine Horton was the daughter of James L. Gardner and Elvira Cornwell and referred to by her family as "Aunt Ollie".]
J.M. GARDNER TAKEN BY DEATH
Rites Set Today
James Martin Gardner, 72, retired merchant and farmer, died about 12:30 o'clock Wednesday morning, September 22, 1949, at this home on Cowpens, Rt 1, following a lingering illness. He lived in the Butler Community for many years.Mr. Gardner was the son of the late Harrison R. Gardner and Cordelia Harris Gardner of Cherokee County, South Carolina.
Funeral services will be conducted at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church near Cowpens at 4 o'clock Thursday afternoon by the Rev. Paul Hayes, the Rev. Vernon McAbee, the Rev. B. C. Morgan and the Rev. L. N. Epley, of Gaffney. Interment will be in the Moutain View Church cemetery with the Blackwell Funeral Home, of Chesnee, in charge.
The following nephews will serve as pallbearers: Hiley, Charles, and Troy Pettit, Andy and Nathan Gardner, John Blanton, Odus Jolley, and Clarence Lamb.
An honorary escort will include B. B. Cromer, C. E. Page, J. M. Cash, R. R. Davis, Ed Poole, S. B. Eaker, Sr, Parley Williams, Boyce Swofford, A. O. Thomas, Dr. A. T. Martin, T. C. Mullinax, Jesse Cash, Buford Thomas, John Revels, Floyd Bridges, Proctor Martin, Paul Sellers, T. J. Orr, J. L. Teal, W. S. Mullinax, M. A. McCraw, W. A. Henderson, and G. C. Swofford.
Mr. Gardner is survived by his wife, Mrs. Lillie Pettit Gardner; a daughter, Mrs. Forest Mullinax, of Gaffney; six sons, O. M., L.M., and J. G. Gardner, of Cowpens, Rt. 1, and B. O. Gardner, of Gaffney, Rt 1, and O. W. and Troy Gardner of Gaffney, Rt 3; a brother, B. T. Gardner, of Gaffney; a sister, Mrs. Lora Jolley of Chesnee; and 13 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
[Source: The Spartanburg Herald-Journal]
VIRGIL A. GARDNER SUCCUMBS AT HOME
Virgil A. Gardner, prominent farmer and public school teacher of the "old school days," died at one o'clock at his home on No. 18 at Beam's Mill....Mr. Gardner was 84 years old on Oct 3rd. He was the son of Confederate Soldier, Capt. Rufus Gardner and Sara Elam Gardner. He was married to Miss Florence Nolan who died in June, 1940.
Suviving are three sons: Carl Gardner of Washington D.C., Attorney Ernest Gardner and Flay Gardner of Shelby, two daughters, Mrs. Herman A. Beam of Fallston and Mrs. Claude McCraw of Chester, S.C.
For 56 years, Mr. Gardner taught a Sunday School class at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. He was a good Bible student and an inveterate reader with a remarkable memory and knowledge of past and present events, although he was self educated. His early schooling, however, was under Dr. Delia Dixon (Carroll) and the Gardner sisters of Shelby.
For 37 years, he taught in the public schools, starting at the princely pay of $25 a month. In those early days he rode horseback and claimed to be the champion rider of the county. In the 16 years he taught at Poplar Springs, Mr. Gardner traveled 16, 840 miles on horseback and was never thrown.
He recalled that in one of the public schools in which he taught in the Double Shoals community there are 45 pupils, 39 of whom were Spanglers. He taught one of his brothers, his sisters and his own children in his long career as a teacher.
During all his adult life he was active in church work, served as a deacon of Pleasant Grove and as church clerk for 35 years, succeeding his father who had served for a like period of years.
After retirement from the teaching profession, Mr. Gardner built a home near where he was born and lived there until his death. For the past few years he has been in bad health and critically ill for two weeks or longer.
[Source: Shelby Star, Dec 1953]
C.P. GARDNER DIES IN MORGANTON
Rites Set for Saturday
Charles P. Gardner, 83, former music teacher and lifelong resident of Cleveland County, who lived on Shelby, Route 3, died this morning at a Morganton hospital. He was a member of Zoar Baptist Church.Funeral services will be held at Zoar Church Saturday morning at 11 o'clock with the body lying in state from 10:30 to 11:00 o'clock. Rites will be conducted by the Rev. W. F. Monroe, Dr. Zeno Wall and the Rev. John W. Suttle. Interment will take place in the church cemetery. The body will remain at the Luts-Austell Funeral home until the hour of the service.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Gerturde (Gertrude) Street Gardner; two children by a former marriage, Dewey Gardner of Gloversville, N.Y., and Mrs. Vivian Masten of Stamford, Conn; a brother Furman Gardner of Shelby, Route 5; a sister, Mrs. Hudson Hamrick of Shelby, Route 2. He also leaves four grandchildren.
[Source: Copy of newspaper clipping from M. Masten, granddaughter of C.P. Gardner.]
BLANCHE ELIZABETH HANNA
Conway, Arkansas. Funeral services for Mrs. Blanche Elizabeth Hanna, 68, who died in her home at Houston, Perry County, last night, will be conducted today at 2:30 in the Bigelow Nazarene Church by the Rev. Agnes Diffee, Little Rock. She was a native of Shelby County Tennessee, and the wife of John Hanna. She is survived by two sons, C.E., Meridian, Tenn and J.E. Hanna, Little Rock; four daughters, Mrs. Lula Embrey, Houston, Mrs. Nan Patterson, Booneville, Mrs. Susie Myers and Mrs. Robert Givens, Galveston, Tex; a brother, D.W. Gardner, Morrilton; and six sisters, Mrs. Nannie Rhea, Nimrod, Mrs. Pearl Dancer, Perryville, Mrs. Maud Beane, Ava, Mrs. Ella Chitwood, El Forado, Mrs. Sam Cage, Weldon, Iowa, and Mrs. Vera Schott, North Little Rock.
[Source: Arkansas Democrat, February 24, 1941; Blanche Hanna aka Lizzie Gardner, daughter of Francis Marion Gardner.]
JOHN HANNA
Funeral services for John Hanna, 91, who died today in the home of a daughter, Mrs. Nan Patterson, 201 W. 14th, will be tomorrow at 2:30pm in the Bigelow Baptist Church by Rev. Tom Hermann. Pallbearers will be John Embrey, Don Myers, Charles Mackey, Charles Myers, Kenneth Seal and Howard Rookard. Burial will be in Lawson Cemetery by Doolin Fumeral Home of Conway. Other survivors include two sons, Charlie Hanna of Little Rock and Estel Hanna of Tulsa, Okla; three other daughters, Mrs. Lula Embrey of Little Rock, Mrs. Susie Myers of Galveston, Tex., and Mrs. Lessie Givens of Houston, Tex., 17 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren[Source: Arkansas Democrat, 21 Feb 1963]
KENNETH WAYNE BELL
Our Prince Charmin
We miss you, guy...
Las Vegas, Nevada. Kenneth W. Bell, 74, died Tuesday. He was born Sept. 12, 1925, in El Dorado, Ark. A retired Navy veteran of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War, he was a 15-year resident of Las Vegas. He is survived by his wife, Connie of Las Vegas; stepsons, Dennis Sharp of Loomis, Calif., and Milan Dunsmoor, Mark Dunsmoor and Robin Dunsmoor, all of Las Vegas; stepdaughters, Claire Heap of Bountiful, Utah, and Rosemary Nelson of Las Vegas; 24 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bunkers Mortuary and one hour prior to services at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Alta and Jones chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Burial will follow at Bunkers Memory Gardens Memorial Park.[Source: Las Vegas Review and Journal, June 2000]
RUFUS WEBB GARDNER
Mr. Rufus W. Gardner, Confederate Veteran and one of Cleveland County's best known older citizens, died Wednesday morning at about 8:40 at the family home near Beams Mill.Mr. Gardner was one of the most prominent men in that section of the county for many years and his passing will be noted with sorrow throughout the county. One of the men who followed Lee and Jackson he enlisted and served along with Anderson Nolan, another respected veteran and lifetime comrade who passed only 3 days ago.
Returning from the conflict, Mr. Gardner became one of those staunch believers that helped to build up again the desolate Southland. He had been in somewhat feeble health for a period of months and his death is attributed to the infirmities of age and a strenuous life, being near 90 years of age at the time of his death.
Beneficical Churchman
After the Civil War, Mr. Gardner, returning to the county, was one of the leaders in organizing the Pleasant Grove church and has been a member there since that (then?) and a leader in church work. For the first 40 years he was clerk of the church board. A school teacher in young manhood, later a magistrate for a number of years and a successful farmer, the deceased was held in high esteem by those of all ages who knew him and the record he leaves is an inspiring one in all lines for those who follow.
The funeral services will be held at Pleasant Grove, the church he helped organize, Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock. It is understood the last rites to be conducted by Rev. G.F. Abernathy and assisting ministers.
Mr. Gardner leaves behind a family strong in influence and respect including four sons and two daughters: Square Sylvanus Gardner and Messers V.A. Gardner and Furman Gardner of the Beams Mill section and Mr. C.P. Gardner, Mrs. C.A. Beam and Mrs. Hudson Hamrick who lives on the Kings Mountain Highway. His wife passed about five years ago.
[Source: M. Masten, Shelby, NC]
WILLIAM M. SIGMON
Mr. William M. Sigmon, 79, of Charlotte died April 23, 1995, at home. Funeral is 11 a.m. Wednesday at McEwen Funeral Home, Charlotte chapel. Burial will be in Sharon Memorial Park. Visitation is 7 to 8 tonight. Mr. Sigmon, a Charlotte native, retired in 1982 after 30 years as a supervisor with the City of Charlotte Water Department. He was a member of Holy Comforter Episcopal Church and was a World War II Marine veteran. Survivors are his wife, Louise; son, William grandson. Memorials may be made to Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, 2701 Park Rd., Charlotte, NC 28209; to Hospice at Charlotte, 1420 E. 7th St., Charlotte, NC 28204; or to American Cancer Society, 500 E. Morehead, Suite 211, Charlotte, NC 28202.[Source:Charlotte Observer, Apr 1995]
JAMES MARSHALL GARDNER "JIM"
James Gardner as a young man...
Mr. Gardner, 89, of Mint Hill, NC passed away Tuesday, November 9, 2010 surrounded by his loving family. He was the son of the late Roger Marshall Gardner and Lola Hilton Gardner. Jim is survived by his wife of 69 years, Merrian Louise Gardner of Mint Hill, NC and his daughter Jimmie Gardner Williams and husband Neal Williams of Myrtle Beach SC. He is also survived by his grandchildren Erin Williams Gerner and husband John Nicholas Gerner of Dallas, Texas and grandson Ryan Neal Williams of Boston MA who affectionately called him "Paw Paw." Jim was a veteran of the US Army, serving in Europe during World War II, where he began to perfect his dental technician skills, a profession he continued until his death. Infamous for his beautiful white hair, corny jokes, and inability to meet a stranger, Jim will be dearly missed by his family and friends. A service honoring Mr. Gardner's life and memory will be held at the Sunset Memorial Gardens, 8901 Lawyers Road, Charlotte, NC on Saturday, November 13, 2010 at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donatons may be made to the National Kidney Foundation and the Disabled American Veterans. The family wishes to thank the hospice staff at the Presbyterian Hospital, Dr. Gregory Merten awith Metrolina Nephrology and Dr. Martin Cutrone of Mid Carolina Cardiology for their loving care and support. Lower Funeral Home of Mathess, NC is assisting the family.[Source: Email correspondence, Grandson of James Marshall Gardner, Apr 2011]
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