Raymond L Gardner

Raymond L. Gardner, age 102 of Laurel, Maryland, passed away on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Raymond was born on January 30, 1923, near Easton, MD. The son of Ernest and Annie Gardner, he was one of 10 children. He attended elementary school in a one room schoolhouse and later attended Robert Russa Moton High School.

He married his beloved Alice Freeman in 1945 and together they raised 11 children. They were married for 65 years, until Alice transitioned from this life in 2010.

Raymond served in the Navy during World War II, where he was a Cook for Naval officers stationed in Boston, MA. Years later he returned to his cooking passion, working at National Geographic where he proudly cooked for 500 employees a day until he retired.

In his lifetime, he was made an honorary member of the National Association of Black Storytellers. He was a member of the Freemasons, and his wife was member of the Eastern Star. He was a father figure to many friends and neighbors and loved spending time at the barber shop, where his daughter was a hairdresser and his son and two grandsons were barbers.

What he cherished most was his wife and family. He leaves a four-generation living legacy of children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.