Pearle Gardner

Annie Pearle “Peegie” Bishop Gardner, 90, of Newberry, died Monday, December 13, 2010, at her home.

Born on August 27, 1920, in Early Branch, SC, Mrs. Gardner was a daughter of the late Henry Edgar and Nora Mahalie Herndon Bishop. She was a 1941 graduate of Winthrop College, where she was a member of Beta Beta Beta, the biology honors fraternity. She and her husband, Rev. Laurin H. Gardner, were married in 1942 and celebrated their 68 ^th wedding anniversary this past July.

Mrs. Gardner taught public schools in Varnville, SC, Portsmouth, OH, Lancaster, SC, Columbus, OH and Carlisle, OH. Her husband, Rev. Gardner, served as pastor of several South Carolina churches during his ministry, including First Baptist Church, Simpsonville; Calvary Baptist Church, Lancaster; and Chappells Baptist Church. While serving in Ohio, Rev. and Mrs.Gardner were appointed by the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention to serve as missionaries in Ohio and Pennsylvania. For the past ten years Mrs. Gardner was a member of First Baptist Church, Newberry, where she taught Sunday School.

Surviving is her husband, Rev. Laurin H. Gardner; sons, Spencer H. (Linda) Gardner of Houston, TX, Laurin V. “Rocky” (Nancy) Gardner of Altamonte Springs, FL, Edgar B. “Eddie” (Rhonda) Gardner of Waynesville, OH and J. Jonathan (Shelly) Gardner of Mt. Juliet, TN; a daughter, Annie Laurie (Sam) Hamilton, Midland, MI; a sister, Evelyn B. Postell of Charleston; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank the people of Amedisys Hospice of South Carolina and Angel Care of Newberry for their wonderful care and support.

Committal services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Chappells Baptist Church Cemetery with a memorial service being held at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Newberry. Visitation will be Thursday from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at McSwain-Evans Funeral Home. In lieu of usual remembrances, memorial contributions in Pearle Gardner’s name may be made to the Annie Armstrong Mission Offering by checks payable to First Baptist Church, Newberry, 1020 Boundary Street, Newberry, SC 29108, and designated accordingly.

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