Earlene Gardner

Earlene Gardner was born as Earlene Reid Harris in Griffin, Spalding County, Georgia on December 7, 1941. She was the 2nd oldest of 6 children born to Jimmy and Rebecca Harris. At the time of Earlene’s arrival it was phrased, though lovingly, that while Japan was bombing Pearl Harbor, Rebecca was bombing with Earlene.

Earlene was raised in the episcopal church and attended services regularly. She was a graduate of the Spalding County school system. Because of an illness she missed more than 3 years of school, graduating in May of 1964 from Fairmont High.

One of the first several job opportunities was employment with a local pepper mill. Earlene had said she had sorted so many peppers until she refused to eat them. She had also gained a reputation as a successful childcare worker. She had been employed by several households, which included friends and relatives, plus a noted doctor named House in Detroit, Michigan. Her golden rule was not to be disturbed during soap opera time.

Earlene’s travels had taken her to California, Washington DC and to Detroit. In Detroit, she acquired a job with a fast food restaurant then eventually with Westin Hotel in Downtown, Detroit.

Easter Sunday 1979 at St. Cyprian’s Church, she met Jerry Gardner with whom she dated for more than two and half years. They became a perfect match. Jerry and Earlene; it had a good ring to it! The wedding came where they began, at St. Cyprian’s on October 3, 1981.

Earlene had always been a hard worker, but in 1985 due to a job related disability, had to leave the Westin Hotel. She retired to homemaking.

Earlene had always been strong. For over five years, she was a kidney dialysis patient at Henry Ford Hospital until receiving one from a waiting list on December 4, 2003. Some years later, the victim of a fall, she carried an implanted metal rod between her right ankle and knee. Shedding no tears, she kept going. Thirty nine years later plus four months into an extended illness, Earlene made her transition at Henry Ford Hospital on February 13, 2021 at 10:31pm.

She is survived by her husband Jerry; daughter Jasmine; Granddaughter Jamauria; Sister Dorothy; Brother Jimmy Harris Jr.; plus cousins and a host of nephews, nieces, and friends.

A Memorial Mass in Earlene’s honor will be held on Thursday, February 25, 2021, at 1:00 p.m., at Grace Episcopal Church, 115 S. Main St., Mt. Clemens, Michigan.

To watch the funeral service live on ZOOM, click the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82493405892?pwd=a0N5cFljd1g1RFZ2VFVFZ2owZkZWdz09

Meeting ID: 824 9340 5892

Passcode: 136083

Fond memories and online condolences may be offered to the family at www.KaulFuneralHome.com