Sylvia Mae Gardner

Sylvia was born in Manitou, KY to the late Herbert Jenkins and Ruby Stone. She is preceded in death by her parents, her late husband Garner "Tad" Gardner, and her siblings, Bonnie Outler, Wanda Ipock, Marvin "Buddy" Jenkins, and Wayne Jenkins.

She is survived by her two sons, Michael (Wanda) Gardner of Washington State and Tad (Pam) Gardner of Hixson, TN; Grandchildren, Gabriel (Sandy) Gardner, Matthew Gardner, Megan (Taylor) Eubank, Matthew Jacob (Ally) Gardner, and Emily Gardner; Great-Grandchildren, Gavin Gardner, Dillon Gardner, Audra Eubank, Eli Eubank, Bella Eubank, Michael Gardner, Josephine Gardner, William Gardner, and one Great Great-Grandchild, Silvia Rose Gardner.

She went to school and graduated from Draughon's Business College in Nashville. After graduation, she went back to Nebo (outside Madisonville) to teach high school typing and shorthand for a few years.

After teaching, she moved to Nashville in 1951 and married Tad Gardner. She worked at Third National Bank for a few years. And then she decided to start her own daycare business in her home, Gardner Day Care. She has always loved children and did a wonderful job keeping the children who stayed with her at Gardner Day Care. She led this business for approximately 55 years.

She and Tad lived together happily and had two children - Tad and Michael Gardner. They had Tad in July 1953, and then five years later had their second child, Michael, in August 1958. Just a few months later of that same year, her husband, Tad, passed away in December 1958. After his passing, she raised her two children by herself.

Sylvia was such an incredible woman. She overcame such adversity in her life, and she is just as sweet as she is strong. She loved to spend time with little kids and she could never say no to a good hug.

A Celebration of Life for Sylvia will be held Friday, January 6, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Mount Olivet Funeral Home & Cemetery, 1101 Lebanon Pike Nashville, TN 37210. A gathering of family and friends will occur Thursday, January 5, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and will occur Friday, January 6, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mountolivet.com for the Gardner family.