Stephen Wesley Gardner

Stephen Wesley Gardner was born on October 8, 1957, in Norfolk, Virginia to Anne Hathaway Gardner and Thomas Gardner. He died on December 17, 2025, at his home in Earlysville, Virginia, surrounded by his wife of 42 years, Virginia, his Dalmatian, Brunello, and two Ocracoke kitty adoptees, Cokie and Sophia.

Stephen enjoyed a wonderfully full life. He surfed the Outer Banks throughout his youth (and more recently Costa Rica), attended Maury High School, worked at his family’s Christmas tree farm/lot and various restaurants (he was a marvelous cook!), spent time with the Gardner family who farmed and raised catfish in and around Macon, Georgia, and he had way more fun than is reasonable with his friends from Norfolk’s West Ghent neighborhood. Stephen developed a satisfying relationship-based business through his 45 years with Hathaway Paper Co. (now Hathaway Solutions) in Waynesboro, Va. He learned the love of creating a Homestead and of traveling with his wife and life partner, Virginia. Stephen was completely devoted to his animals, be they 5 Dalmations (Chardonnay, Tanqueray, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and two Brunellos), the sweetest British Lab ever - a rescue named Susie, numerous crazy but talented cats, and the many well-loved wild birds who have found refuge on their Earlysville property.

Stephen fought the battle of sarcoma cancer. By the time he found Dr. Matthew Elliott at UVa, who made it his mission to figure out what was going on, the cancer was already stage 4. Still, Stephen fought, right through a femur break, pressure wound, and other anomalies, until the cancer seemed to consume him. He came home from the last hospital visit with Hospice of the Piedmont, and he died peacefully with his family.

Stephen is survived by his wife, Virginia, his niece, Alexis Anne Gardner, and his stepmother, Susie Gardner. Stephen was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Ann (Hathaway) Summers and James Summers, his older brother, Chuck (Alexis’ father), and his father, Tom Gardner. He has enjoyed the privilege of being part of a large extended family of Gardners and Hathaways, mostly of Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Should you wish to make a contribution in Stephen’s memory, he would hope the organization contributes to the quality of life of others. Most important to him personally, as he reached the end of life, were Ivy Creek Methodist Church (Woodlands Rd) and any of the local rescue squads, many of which he became way too familiar.

Stephen will be remembered for his kindness and generosity, for his ever-present smile, and for the smiles he brought to all who knew him. A Memorial celebrating his life is scheduled for Saturday, December 27th, at 2:00 pm – at Ivy Creek Methodist Church, 674 Woodlands Rd.