Lillian Smiley Gardner

Lillian Smiley Gardner was born on December 24, 1921 in Jacksonville, Florida, the youngest of nine children to Rutherford Benjamin Smiley and Sarah Meredith Smiley, both of Jacksonville. As a youngster, Lillian attended the Boylan haven All Girls Private School as well as the New Stanton Senior High School in Jacksonville where she was an outstanding student. In 1938, Lillian posed as the Black Madonna with her infant son, Percy L. Gardner Jr. The statue is part of the permanent collection at The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens in Jacksonville. After school, Mrs. Gardner was employed by the Duval County School Board and the King Edward Cigar Factory.

Mrs. Gardner is remembered by those who loved her most as a private woman of meager fair who through her own tenacity taught herself how to play the piano and to cultivate an organic garden while living in Middleburg, Florida. She exemplified her commitment to human liberties through her support for the civil rights movement during the 1960’s and 1970’s. She demonstrated her love of animals in her cat “Calliboots”. She also had a love of learning which she exemplified via her passion for reading and crossword puzzles. It was her thirst for knowledge that influenced her descendents to strive for wisdom through higher education, trade expertise and/or military experience.

Included amongst Lillian’s many sorrowing family members and friends are her beloved and devoted daughter, Maria Christine “Chris” Gardner of the home; daughters Gloria C. Melenciano of Jacksonville, Florida; Dorothy A. Flowers of Greensboro, North Carolina and Sarah K. Gardner of Navarre, Florida; two sons, David R. Gardner (Viola) of San Jose, California and Daniel K. Gardner (Phyllis) of Marietta, Georgia; one daughter-in-law, Sadie Gardner of College Park, Georgia; one sister-in-law, Charlie Mae Gardner of Jacksonville, Florida. In addition to her immediate family, Lillian leaves 25 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, 21 great-great grandchildren, 1 great-great-great grandchild and host of nieces and nephews. She also established many personal friends with whom she had lasting closeness including Mission Department Members and the Mother’s Board of Praises Zion Baptist, Jackson Davis, Dorothy Bradshaw, Earline Daniels, and Mr. Wilbert Johnson and his wife, Frances. Her husband of 48 years, Percy Lee “Mike” Gardner Sr. (1985), daughters Peggy “Joyce” Rivers (1992), Lydia “Faye” Ellis, and Patricia E. Boyd (2000) and son Percy Lee “Mickey” Gardner Jr. preceded her in death.

Lillian accepted Christ as her personal savior at a young age, was baptized at Springhill Baptist Church (Jacksonville, FL) and was also a member of Greater Payne Chapel A.M.E. Church (Jacksonville, FL), a family church her ancestors founded and pastured. She was a faithful member until 1979 when she moved to California. In 1991, Mrs. Gardner became a “cornerstone” member of Praises of Zion Baptist Church in Clearlake under Reverend Alfred Wilson and has been an active member of The Mother’s Board and The Missionary Society under the leadership of Reverend Jonathan Green.