Celebrating the life of
Marjorie Sheffield Gardner
April 13, 1923 - March 03, 2010
Marjorie S. Gardner
SAVANNAH - Marjorie Katherine Sheffield Gardner, 86, died on Wednesday, March 3, 2010. She was pre-deceased by her beloved husband of 55 years, John Calhoun Gardner, in 2001.
Born in Savannah, GA, she was a daughter of the late Robert William and Marjorie Woodruff Sheffield. She was a graduate of Savannah High School and Shorter College with a Bachelor of Music degree in piano minor in organ.
Her love of music was nurtured by family and church. Before marriage she served as minister of music at First Baptist Church in Waynesboro, GA. In Savannah she served as organist at First Presbyterian Church; organist and minister of music at Memorial Baptist Church; organist at Robert McIntyre Methodist Church; lead pianist with worship team at Christian Life Church and Cornerstone Church of Savannah – retiring in 2007. She was a past president of the Savannah Organ Guild.
For over 40 years, she joined her husband, John, and later their son, John Jr, as co-owner of Skidaway Ace Hardware and Gardners Ace Hardware.
Most importantly, she was a loving and devoted wife, mother, Nanna, and friend who cared deeply about the spiritual and material needs of everyone she met. She was active in Women's Aglow and missions outreach – both locally and internationally. She played the piano for residents at Spanish Oaks Alzheimer's Care and Hospice, for sing-a-longs at John Wesley Retirement Center, and for the Senior Adult Choir at Southside Baptist Church. She dearly loved the women in her Bible Study and Prayer Groups. They were great support to her.
She is survived by her brother Robert Woodruff Sheffield and his wife, Joann, of Jacksonville, FL; her sister Norma Sheffield Braden and her husband, Biddy, of Rome, GA; her daughter Marjorie Anne Gardner George and her husband, Bill, of Easley, SC; son John C. "Jack" Gardner, Jr and his wife, Cathy, of Savannah, GA; three granddaughters- Kimberly George Taylor and her husband, Alan, of Cary, NC; Laura Gardner Geiger and her husband, Philip, of Raleigh, NC; and Jennifer Gardner Faith and her husband, Jeff, of Pooler, GA; four great-grandchildren- Emily and Matthew Taylor, Jordan Geiger, and Micah Faith; and many nieces and nephews.
Family will receive friends from 5:30–7:30 PM Friday, March 12, at Fox & Weeks, 7200 Hodgson Memorial Drive. The funeral service will be 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 13, at Southside Baptist Church with Dr. Allan Bosson and Rev. Don Norris officiating. Burial will follow at the Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Southside Baptist Church Building Fund, 5502 Skidaway Rd, Savannah, GA 31406 OR to the Haiti Disaster Relief Fund of the North American Mission Board, 1-866-407-6262, www.namb.net/Haiti.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.foxandweeks.com.
We are thinking about you all this week. Reading about Mrs. Marjorie, I realized that she was a wonderful christian lady. She shared her faith and talents with so many people, and I know she will be truly missed. Love you, Gilda and Larry Harrell
- Gilda P. Harrell, Whigham, GA
JACK AND MARJORIE,FAMILY THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TAKE CARE OR YOUR MA. SHE WAS A VERY NICE AND BEAUTIFUL LADY INSIDE AND OUT. SO THIS WAS HER SAYING TO ME ' PRAISE THE LORD TRUDY' AND SHE WOULD PUT HER HANDS UP IN THE AIR. I'M SORRY I WASN'T THERE FOR HER AT THE LAST MOMENT OF HER LIFE. THANK YOU. SINCERELY, TRUDY SMITH
- trudy smith, sav, GA
What a beauitul Lady. So highly respected and loved by many. Ms Marjorie always carried herself with poise and grace. She was a light for Christ and I know she will be missed by so many. Family we love you and have been praying for you. May the God of comfort be yours in the weeks ahead. The Kohler Family
- Kathy Kohler, , GA
We are thinking about you all this week. Reading about Mrs. Marjorie, I realized that she was a wonderful christian lady. She shared her faith and talents with so many people, and I know she will be truly missed. Love you, Gilda and Larry Harrell
- Gilda P. Harrell, Whigham, GA
JACK AND MARJORIE,FAMILY THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TAKE CARE OR YOUR MA. SHE WAS A VERY NICE AND BEAUTIFUL LADY INSIDE AND OUT. SO THIS WAS HER SAYING TO ME ' PRAISE THE LORD TRUDY' AND SHE WOULD PUT HER HANDS UP IN THE AIR. I'M SORRY I WASN'T THERE FOR HER AT THE LAST MOMENT OF HER LIFE. THANK YOU. SINCERELY, TRUDY SMITH
- trudy smith, sav, GA
What a beauitul Lady. So highly respected and loved by many. Ms Marjorie always carried herself with poise and grace. She was a light for Christ and I know she will be missed by so many. Family we love you and have been praying for you. May the God of comfort be yours in the weeks ahead. The Kohler Family
- Kathy Kohler, , GA
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
