Veatrice Rebecca “Jean” Reynolds Gardner

Jean passed away to the arms of her dear Savior Jesus Christ on Jan, 8th 2021. Jean,  as most knew her was born on May 18, 1932 to Maylon and Viola Reynolds in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Jean was the oldest of 4 children. Her two brothers were Richard and Ronnie and her sister was Ora Lee. All of them predeceasing her. As a teen- ager, Jean gave her heart to Jesus at a revival service at Salem Baptist Church where her family attended as they were growing up. She attended Gray High School and was very active on the Girls Basketball Team. She also played softball and was an officer with the Girls Athletic  Association. She married John David Gardner in 1950.  Jean loved her family and she and John raised 3 daughters, Pamela, Rebecca and Sheri.  John was a member of the North Carolina National Guard until he joined the U.S. Army in the late 1950’s. He and Jean and their girls moved all over the globe. Jean was as much a part of the Army as was John since she served her family faithfully right by his side for years. She was always involved in the Protestant Chapels on the Army bases and volunteered many hours with the Red Cross and with the Veteran’s Hospitals.   Once John retired from Army Life  they lived for several years in central Florida then moved back to their hometown for a few years before finally settling in Georgia. Jean had a love for all things of nature especially flowers and she raised some prize winning Iris’s which she shared with anyone who came to visit. She had a natural green thumb and always used the quote “Bloom where you are Planted” to remind her daughters to love, nurture, and care for their families wherever they landed. In Georgia while serving as Sunday School Teachers and being active in their Georgia Churches Jean and John had a group of faithful friends which they enjoyed traveling with. They not only traveled with these friends but served the Lord faithfully together where ever they were needed at Westside Baptist Church and Bethany Baptist Church. They got to travel to places like Europe, Hawaii, Alaska and made many other wonderful memories. Jean was a very joyful, loving and beautiful human being. Her daughters loved her always and their children and grandchildren all have special memories of Memaw’s love and attention. In 2014 she lost her husband of almost 64 years after caring for him in the home for 11 months. She was so brave and still kind and loving but she started suffering from memory loss around that time.  They will both be missed forever but have left an enduring mark on all who loved them.  They are survived by their 3 daughters Pamela (Kevin) Thompson of Cleveland, Georgia,  Rebecca (Chris) Beckerwerth of Royce City, Texas, and Sheri (Kenny) Frieze of Walnut Cove, North Carolina. Also nine loving grandchildren, Casey Thompson, Rebecca (Todd) Jackson, Kelly (Taylor) Forbus, Dustin (Eileen) Horwedel, Megan (Joey) Murawa,  Alexa (Aaron) Fodge, Jason (Tamara) Krupel, Joshua (Whitney) Krupel and Brandon (Trista) Krupel. Also 13 beautiful great grandchildren, Caleb, Christian, Maggie Jo, Jeb, Asa, Amanuel, Micah, Vinnie, Ollie, Celeste, Jayden, Gabby and Maci. Jean is also survived by sister in law Jo Dickey of Kernersville, North Carolina and sister in law Bonnie Reynolds of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, also a very special cousin Billie Sue Boles of Winston-Salem as well as many nieces and nephews.