James Thomas Gardner, 59, of Tifton passed away Thursday, March 13, 2003, at his residence. His funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 15, 2003, at Tifton's First Church of the Nazarene with the Rev. T. Manuel Johnson and the Rev. Ike Branch officiating. Mr. Gardner was laid to rest at Lawrence Cemetery.
Rowell Stanley, Reese Stanley. Earl Watkins, Tom Gardner, Randy Walker, H. B. Levitt II and Dan Burton served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were the management team of Shaw Industries in Tifton.
Born April 6, 1943, in Dublin, Mr. Gardner was the son of the late Thomas Ellis Gardner and Sara Aiken Gardner. He was a graduate of Laurens County High School in Dublin and received his BBA degree in 1967 from Georgia Southern College. He was the shipping and receiving manager at Shaw Industries in Tifton; and he was a member of Tifton's First Church of the Nazarene. He had lived in Tifton most of his life.
Mr. Gardner is survived by his wife, Elaine Mullis Gardner of Tifton; one son, Robert Gardner of Tifton; two step-sons, Dorsey King and Roger King, both of Tifton; and five grandchildren, Ali Gardner, Jonas Gardner, Trevor Gardner, Rebecca Rogers and Elijah King.
Memorial gifts may be made to Tifton's First Church of the Nazarene Building Fund, 3024 Tift Avenue North, Tifton, GA 31794.