Mr. Joseph Gardner

Funeral service for Mr. Joseph (Joe) Gardner, 83, of Florence, SC, will be conducted 12 Noon, Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at Mt. Zion AME Church, 1305 E, Cheves St., Florence. Interment will follow in Florence National Cemetery, directed by Smith Funeral Home of Florence, LLC. Mr. Joe, as he was affectionately called was born to the late James Webster and Mable Brown Gardner on February 15, 1936 in Florence County. He died on Thursday, May 2, 2019. Mr. Joe attended school in the Florence County Public School System, enlisted in the United States Army and later began a career as a brick mason and retired after 50 years of service. At an early age, Mr. Joe attended Wayside Baptist Church in Florence, SC. In 1964, he married Mary Reed Gardner and to this union five children were born. Mr. Joe was Master Mason in Champion Lodge #381 of Florence, SC. His favorite football team was the Carolina Panthers and he loved watching Western TV shows. Survivors include his wife, Mary Gardner; two daughters, Sandra (Kenneth) Phillips and Deshanzor Gardner; three sons, Joseph Gardner Jr, Gary Gardner, and William Gardner; twelve grandchildren; numerous great grandchildren; one sister, Ruth Tindal; one brother, John Gardner; one sister-in-law, Evelina Reed; a special nephew, Michael Plowden; a special niece, Wanda (Hamburger) Reed; a host of nephews; nieces; other relatives and friends. Masonic rites will be held from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at J. O. & Annette Smith Memorial Chapel, 307 S. Johns St., Florence and other times at 901 Layton St., Florence. Send flowers to the service of Mr. Joseph Gardner