Mr. Stokely Rowe Gardner was born June 19, 1930 and departed this life on Saturday, June 9, 2018. He was born in Blanche, Tennessee and is preceded in death by his parents, Mr. Claude and Mrs. Lorean Gardner, Brothers Lloyd and David Gardner and Sister Ann Eady.
Stokely received his early education at West End High School in Fayetteville, Tennessee. After High School, he enrolled at Tennessee State University in Nashville where he was inducted into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. Prior to graduation, he served four years in the United States Military and upon receiving an honorable discharge returned to Tennessee State University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.
Stokely began his professional career with Thiokol Chemical Company in Huntsville, Alabama. After a number of years at Thickol, he was employed by the IBM Corporation where he held multiple supervisory and non-supervisory positions during tenure retiring from there in 1990 after twenty-six years of dedicated service.
His Christian and social affiliations included Blanche Missionary Baptist Church, Blanche, Tennessee; Fellowship Presbyterian Church, Huntsville, Alabama and Wesley United Methodist Church, Austin, Texas.
Stokely is survived by his wife of 57 years, Deborah Spears Gardner, Daughter Vanessa Gardner King, DeSoto, Texas; Son Lawrence Fitzgerald (Lisa) Gardner, Plano, Texas; Sister Faye Gardner Stewart, Nashville, Tennessee; Grandchildren Donna Denise Hull, Austin, Texas; Juan Demetrius Hull II, DeSoto, Texas; Lauren Mackenzie and Lawrence Samuel Gardner, Plano, Texas; and Ferman Jeremiah King II, Desoto, Texas; five Sister’s-In-Law, Bernice Kirk, Yellow Springs, Ohio, Mary Catherine Gardner, Nashville, Tennessee, Mary Spears, Winfield, Alabama, Claudia Spears, Los Angeles, CA, and Margaret Gardner, Huntsville, Alabama. Additionally, he is survived by a host of nieces, nephews, family friends and admirers.
Fond memories and expressions my be shared at www.cookwaldenchapelofthehills.com for the Gardner Family.
