Obituary for March 24

Published 11:37 pm Friday, March 23, 2007

Samuel Johnson Gardner Jr.

MOULTRIE — Samuel Johnson Gardner Jr., 86, long-time attorney in Moultrie died Thursday, March 22, 2007, at Colquitt Regional Medical Center.

Graveside services will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, March 24, at Westview Cemetery with the Revs. Hugh Ward and J.E. Moak officiating.

Born in Albany, Ga., in 1920, his parents moved to Savannah, Ga., a year later, where he lived until beginning his law career in Moultrie in 1947. He was a graduate of Armstrong State University in Savannah, Ga., Emory University and the University of Georgia Law School. He also studied at Harvard Business School.

Throughout his life, he was active in all lay activities of the United Methodist Church. At First United Methodist Church he served as Sunday school teacher, member of the Board of Stewards and on the “sidewalk committee,” an ad hoc greeting and steering committee.

He was a member of Kiwanis International, serving the Moultrie chapter as president on several occasions. It was during his first tenure that the Moultrie High School Serenaders made their first international trip to the Kiwanis International Convention in Canada.

He enjoyed working with the citizens of Moultrie and Colquitt County through his law practice. It was thought that he was generous with his time and his love for the people of this area. He was privileged to serve in the Georgia State Senate in 1961-62, representing the citizens of Colquitt, Tift and Cook counties. Throughout his life, his interest in people and the ease with which he met them seem to make him friends wherever he went.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Julia Florence Gardner; his daughter, Ann Gardner; and his grandson, Kirk Blackburn Oliver Jr.

Survivors include a son, Samuel J. Gardner III of Charlotte, N.C.; two daughters, Florence Gardner Calhoun of Jacksonville, Fla., and Caroline Gardner Oliver of Athens, Ga.; three grandchildren, Elizabeth Brooks Calhoun, Robert Knight Calhoun and Caroline Florence Calhoun of Jacksonville, Fla.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. William Houseal of Fripp Island, S.C., Mrs. Harold Florence of Tryon, Ga., Mr. Upshaw Bentley of Athens, Ga., and Mrs. Quincy Darbyshire of Moultrie; many nieces, nephews and cousins, one of whom is Anne Felton Smith of Moultrie.

At the request of the family, anyone wishing to remember him is encouraged to do so with a donation to a favorite charity.

Harrell-Faircloth Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.