Nellie Belle Lancaster Gardiner, "Miss Nellie," age 72, died on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at Yalobusha General Hospital. She was born in Fountain Inn, SC to the late John Henry and Bithia Eleanor Graydon Lancaster. For almost thirty years Nellie was employed as a secretary and telephone operator for Motts, Inc. She was an active member of First Baptist Church of Water Valley where she taught Sunday School, and was a member of Grow Outreach and the Young at Heart. She enjoyed visiting shut-ins and was active in the benevolence ministry. Nellie formerly played softball for FBC and was fondly called their “Homerun Queen”. She was a volunteer at “Save-A-Life,” an Ambassador for the Water Valley Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Pine Valley Homemakers. She farmed, was a woodchopper and enjoyed planting flowers. Nellie loved her family and was a devoted mom and grandma.
Visitation will be held Friday, March 4, 2011 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Seven Oaks Funeral Home of Water Valley, MS. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, March 5, 2011 at First Baptist Church of Water Valley with Dr. Randy Bain and Bro. Hal Clark presiding. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery with her grandsons and nephews serving as pallbearers.
She is survived by two sons, Clayton Edward Gardiner (Kathy) of Lignum, VA and Clifton “Cliff” Gardiner (Tamara) of Water Valley, MS; two sisters, Lois E. Barbrey of Hartselle, AL and Brenda Owens of Fountain Inn, SC; six brothers, Angus Lancaster of Simpsonville, SC, Charles Lancaster and Roosevelt Lancaster both of Fountain Inn, SC, H. T. Lancaster of Greenville, SC, Cothran Lancaster of Lauren, SC and Billy Lancaster of Lexington, NC; two grandsons, Joshua and Justin Gardiner and one granddaughter, Larkin Gardiner; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Charles Edward "Bub" Gardiner; one sister, Sarah Ensley; and three brothers, Walter, Wilton, and Leon Lancaster.
Memorials may be made to Sav-A-Life, P. O. Box 1193, Oxford, MS 38655 or to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1472, Water Valley, MS, 38965.