Annette Doris Gardner

Annette Doris Gardner was born November 16, 1935 in Birmingham, AL to the late Turner and Ethel Smith. She was the sixth child of six children. Raised in a Christ centered home, Annette accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at a young age.

Perfect attendance and honor roll performance in the Birmingham Public School system led to a move to New York City, where she lived with her sisters, Edna and Ruby. Soon she was enrolled in Business School and on her way to a teaching career. During this time Isora Gardner thought that Annette would be a perfect wife for her son Paul Gardner. Isora worked with Annette’s mother Ethel in Women’s ministries and the Civil Rights Movement. The two mothers set up an initial meeting of the pair and the rest is history. December 22, 1956, Paul and Annette were married.

Paul and Annette lived and traveled overseas and in the continental United States. This union produced 3 children which she loved and adored. Annette was a stay at home mom, which to her was her most important job. She cooked homemade meals every day and hand-made the family’s clothes. Teaching her children about the Lord Jesus Christ was her first priority and they learned at a young age the need for a savior in their lives. Once her youngest child Elizabeth started the 1st grade, she was ready to go to work, outside of the home. She became a Vocational Education Teacher at Palos Verdes High School in Tucson, Arizona and worked in the Tucson and Austin Independent School Districts for over 20 years. After retirement from the school systems, she became 3M Austin’s first employee. The Minnesota company started operations at the Braker Lane Business Park, prior to moving to their current location at Ranch Road 2222. She was a Purchasing Agent and won several BB Countrymen Awards for outstanding performance and contributions. Annette retired from 3M in 1999.

Paul and Annette enjoyed traveling with their 2 granddaughters and opening their home to the College and Career, Single Dad’s, Bible Study groups and friends. Annette was an excellent cook and loved to entertain. She was a member of Christ Memorial Baptist Church now High Pointe Baptist Church and served in the Adult Choir since 1978. Music was so much a part of her life, as she also played the piano and was a harp student and studied under a Harpist, who was a member of the Austin Symphony. She also dabbled in a modeling career for K Hall Agency. There wasn’t anything she couldn’t or wouldn’t do for the people in her life and she lived by the words in Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not men”. Her presence in our lives will be missed but her spirit will live on forever.

“A thousand years from today we’ll still love you”.

Annette is predeceased by her parents and siblings, Mckinley, Mary, Dennis, Ruby and Edna.

She leaves behind the loves of her life her beloved husband of 60 years, Paul Gardner, Jr of Austin, TX; Daughter Cheryl D. Gardner (Penny) of Austin, TX; Son Paul K. Gardner (Skip) and his wife Martha Gonzales of Houston, TX; Daughter Elizabeth A. Gardner of Austin, Texas; Granddaughter Alexis Annette Esperanza Gardner and her mother Norma Everett McClain of Pflugerville, TX; Granddaughter Tatum Renee Gardner of Houston, TX; Brother and Sister-in-law Daniel and Jeanette Gardner of Green Cove Springs, FL; Niece Willnetta Marie McGhee of Fayette AL; Nephew Tyrone C.K. Brown of Birmingham, AL; Nephew Henry A Jackson III of New York, NY; Niece Tracey D. Jackson of Birmingham, AL; Grand Niece Christina G. Jackson of Birmingham, AL; In-Laws Ray and Amelia Hernandez of Houston, TX; In-Laws John and Angela Bradford and children Sofia and John IV of The Woodlands, TX; Precious friends Dian Sims of Austin, TX; Kelley Wood and son Cody of Houston, TX.

The family extends special thanks to the Nurses at St. David’s North ICU, Nurse Next Door Home Care Services, Dr. Ferril Smith, Dr. Poalo Venegoni, Dr. Patrick Hranitzky and The Church Administration and Members of High Pointe Baptist Church, with special recognition to Augi and Mari Bacolor, Carlos and Josie Cordova, Otis Fields, Larry and Rita King, and Jim and Shar Minton.