John F. Gardner
September 20, 1943 ~ May 7, 2013
John (Jay) F. Gardner was called home on Tuesday, May 07, 2013 at the age of 69, while surrounded by his family at Duke University Hospital after a two and a half year battle with MDS (a form of bone marrow cancer).
Jay is predeceased by his sister, Gloria Buchanan; mother, Rebecca Webb; and father, John Rodwell Gardner.
Jay is survived by his beloved wife of 33 years, Sandra of Spring Hope; son, Barry Gardner and wife Becky and their sons, Tyler and Ryan; step-daughter, Kellie Glover and husband Wade and children Amanda and Payten; son, Spencer Gardner and wife Eleanor and children Spencer Jr., Ramey and Alex; son, Brannan Gardner and children Hayden and Pierce; step-son, Kam Kelly and wife Robin; nephews, Tommy Buchanan of Butner NC and Rob Buchanan-Linebaugh and wife Shirley of Portland OR.
Jay was born in Danville, Virginia on September 20, 1943 and graduated from Louisburg High School. Jay went to college at both Louisburg and Barton Colleges.
Jay retired from Sprint (yellow page division) as sales rep, manager, and trainer after 43 years. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Spring Hope where he served on several church committees and sang in the choir. He enjoyed spending time with his family, working in the yard, and cooking on the grill. He served his community as a volunteer fireman and a photographer for 21 years.
A service to remember Jay will be held 2:00pm May 10, 2013 at Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home with Rev. Kevin Moore. The family will receive friends and relatives 12:00pm to 2:00pm prior to the service. A private burial will follow at Spring Hope Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Duke Cancer Institute, Office of Development, DUMC, 3828, Durham NC 27710 or visit www.gifts.duke.edu/dci.
Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.
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Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services
1130 N. Winstead Ave.
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
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Friday 5/10, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
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Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services
1130 N. Winstead Ave.
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
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Friday 5/10, 2:00 pm
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Please accept our deepest condolences for your family’s loss.
I am saddened today about your loss and the loss of my good friend Jay. Like all who knew him at Sprint, he was the yellow page king. I still to this day use his name and what he taught me in my sales career. I will really miss him. He was a great salesman and even better a great man. Please accept my sympathies. We all loved him as our mentor and friend. John Sweitzer
My deepest condolences to the Gardner family. What a great guy, I worked for Jay for 8 years, I don’t think I would have made it through all the telephone company madness with out some Jay Gardner to make lite of the situation. Best Supervisor I ever had during my tenure in the Yellow Pages. Jay will be missed…..Regards Curt Williford
Lit a candle in memory of John (Jay) F. Gardner
What a wonderful life this man lived! He loved his wife, he loved his family, he loved his friends. He had a smile that warmed your heart like a hot sunrise cracking over the ocean’s horizon. A salesman’s salesman, a friend to his community and church, a soft heart that took on other’s pains. All that and the man could cook one heckuva pig! Jaybird, we will all miss you greatly.
My thoughts and prayers are with all you during this difficult time. I was very saddened to hear about the loss of a very good man. He would always bring a smile to my face with his fun personality. May God embrace and comfort all of you during this sad time. Carlynda Langston, Youngsville NC
I am truly sorry for your family’s loss. I worked with Jay for several years at Sprint Yellow Pages. Jay was always cheerful, looked for positive solutions and offered friendship and support to those who were around him. I remember how often Jay spoke of his family and how proud he was when he shared stories of his family. He was a great man and I was incredibly fortunate to have known Jay. I pray that God watches over your family during this time. Warren Jacobs
Gardner Family, I am so sorry for your loss. I will always remember Jay fondly, as a teenager, growing up with my grandparents, Ruth and Ernest Thomas, and as a father to 3 very active boys, and 2 stepchildren. He always made me laugh, and it meant so much for me when he visited me in the hospital 3 years ago. What a great man he was. I will always love his fun-living nature!!! God bless all of you. Sandra, I pray that you have a very special Mother’s Day, surrounded by all of your children and grandchildren. Barry, Spence, Bran, Kellie, and Cam, you have lost a wonderful father!!! God bless you all!!!-). Love, Mary Jack
When we lose a loved one to death, Jesus opened the way for us to gain everlasting life. (Matt.2028) grief & the feelings of helplessness can seem unbearable. At such times as these, we need to go to means of faith in the merit of Jesus shed blood, that we can we gain ; everlasting life.(John 316) The Bible gives Gods word for comfort. (2 Cor. 1 3,4) The Bible helps us to understand how Jehovah & Jesus feel about death. Jesus who perfectly reflected his Father, knew the pain of losing someone in death. (John 149) How did Jesus feel about losing his friend The account tells us that Jesus joined Lazarous relatives & friends as they grieved over this loss. Seeing them, Jesus was deeply moved. He groaned in the spirit & became troubled. Then the account says Jesus gave way to tears. (John 11 33,35) Did Jesus grief mean that he had no hope Not at all, in fact, Jesus knew that something wonderful was about to happen. (John 11 3,4) Still he felt the pain & sorrow that death brings. Jesus did not claim to perform this amazing miracle on his own. In his prayer just before calling out to Lazarus, he made it clear that Jehovah was the source of the resurrection. (John 1141,42) This was not the only time that Jehovah used his power in this way. The resurrection of Lazarus is just one of nine miracles of this kind recorded in Gods word. All of these things just show us what is to come to pass in the near future. What a wonderful gift of LOVE.