Reverend Randy Gardner, a servant of God, passed from this life into God’s presence on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at the age of 71. He was born in Prentiss, Mississippi to Howard and Bobbie Gardner and was raised in Bassfield where he graduated from high school. Randy worked offshore in the oil and gas industry for thirteen years before he was called into the ministry. He graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a degree in Pastoral Ministries and began pastoring in 1994. He was Brother Randy from this point on as he served his first two churches in Lawrence County, Old Hebron Baptist Church and Oak Vale Baptist Church. He pastored Bunker Hill Baptist Church for eighteen years when he retired from fulltime ministry. Brother Randy had a pastor’s heart and continued to preach as pulpit supply for several churches around the area. For the past three years, he has continued to minister to families while working visitations and assisting on funerals with Colonial Funeral Home. Brother Randy was devoted to his family, he was kind, compassionate, and generous with his time and resources. He will be remembered for his wit and wisdom and a wonderful sense of humor.
He was preceded in death by his father, Howard Gardner; a sister, Wanda Gardner; and his daughter, Kelly Williamson. Brother Randy is survived by his wife, Carmen Gardner; his mother, Bobbie Gardner; a sister, Doris Viniard; two granddaughters, Emily Williamson and Jenna Pickering and her husband Keegan; a great-grandson to arrive in July, Soren Luke Pickering and numerous nieces and nephews.
The funeral service, officiated by Reverend Brian Stewart and Doctor Gary Roberson, will be at Bunker Hill Baptist Church on Friday, June 16, 2023 at 1:00pm. Friends may visit with the family from 10:00am until service time. Burial will follow in New Bunker Hill Cemetery assisted by Chad Viniard, Scott Williamson, Michael Williamson, Garrett Douglas, James Fagan, and Byron Anderson, II serving as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers the family, the family prefers that memorials be made in his honor to the Bunker Hill Baptist Church Parking Lot Fund.
