Marie Gardner

Remembering... On April 25, 1928, Marie Gardner was born to McIver Woodham and Laura Jacobs in Darlington County, South Carolina. She went home to be with the Most High God on May 1, 2020. Marie attended Butler High School in Darlington and worked on a farm with her parents who were sharecroppers along with her siblings Hosea, Maggie, James, Charles and her "beloved John" (Eugene). The Woodhams were members of St. John United Methodist Church. Attending church was an important part of their lives. She met Willis Gardner of Olando County and they were married on June 5, 1948. They relocated to Baltimore, MD in 1956 with their 3 small children. Marie was a housewife and mother until she decided to learn the art of sewing at P.S. #182. That skill landed her employment as a piece worker in a downtown factory where she out performed most of her coworkers. She also became "shop steward" in which she acted as liaison between management and staff. She loved supporting and fighting for employees' rights. This position afforded her the opportunity to attend the March on Washington led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1963. She was very proud to have participated. Marie was always glad to bless others with her sewing and cooking talents as well as her strength of character and mother wit (and, she was hardly ever wrong). Marie became a member of Allen A.M.E. Church around 1960. She served on various committees and boards; taught Sunday school; attended conferences and sang on the choir. She loved her Allen Family and was an active member until 2016 when her health prevented her from regularly attending service. All of Marie's nuclear family preceded her in death including her nieces Carrie Lee Dixon (Nick), Mamie Kelly (Sue) who were like sisters to her; and Quinzetta Roger's of Jamaica, NY, who sent Christmas cards every year without fail. She leaves to mourn, her four children Woodrow Gardner, Joyce Gardner, Sadie Gardner-Young and Sandra Waters; one daughter-in-law, Gertrude Gardner; nine grandchildren Daryl Spady, Umeka Neverson, Anita Washington, Teneil Hall, Katrina Young, Courtney Young, Brandon Waters, Joel Waters and Troy Waters; 10 great grandchildren and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins friends and other family. Also, her oldest friend, Jean Singletary and Allen A.M.E. family

Tributes

Marie Gardner

April 25, 1928 - May 1, 2020