Sunday, January 19, 2014 our mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother passed away while at Forsyth Medical Center.

Mrs. Lillie Mae Gardner, also known as "Ma Mae", was born September 1, 1927 to the late Ella Greene Williams and Bud Harper in Central, SC.

Mother Williams and Lillie Mae moved to Winston-Salem, NC where Lillie Mae attended the Winston-Salem public schools.
She met and married Obie Gardner on October 2, 1943.
Mrs. Gardner was a faithful member of Beulah Tabernacle Holiness Church, where she sang on the choir and her mother Mrs. Ella Williams served as Mother of the Church until her passing.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Obie Gardner; a sister, Bernice Thomas; and her nephew, Edward Greene.

Mrs. Gardner leaves to cherish her memories two sons, Johnnie "Blue" Gardner and Charles (Brenda) Gardner; three daughters, Eva (Cornell) O'Neal, Ernestine Gardner both of the city, and Constance (Eric) Olsen of San Francisco, CA; 8 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; 8 great-great grandchildren; 2 nieces, Bertha Switzer of Brooklyn, NY and Betty Jones of Raleigh, NC; a host of great nieces and nephews; other family members, friends and her god children, Theopilia and Ruby Covington.

Funeral services will be held at 12noon Friday, January 24, 2014 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 11am until 12noon on Friday at the Chapel.

The family is deeply grateful to all of the caregivers who provided her with loving care during her final years.

In lieu of flowers, any memorials may be made to the Winston-Salem Alzheimer's Association.