Sunday’s Obituary: Robert Lee Gardner

In Memoriam, Mr. Robert L. Gardner. What to us is sadder from the human viewpoint than to see a bright, promising life severed right at the very time when it seemed that life's hopes are brightest and the fairest laurels crown the forehead of young manhood or young womanhood? "Tis true that in the midst of life we are in death," but very few seem to so thoroughly realize this truth as did the subject of this sketch, Mr. Robert Lee Gardner. Robert was born February the 5th, 1892 and died Wednesday, December 27, 1916. Robert was unlike the average boy insomuch as his determination from youth was that of making a life's surrender to God and thereby be prepared to meet the final call even though it should come at noon or midnight. And his past life bespoke for him the most beautiful testimony, "It is well with my soul." For a long while Robert was a member of the Friendship Sunday school and served in the capacity of secretary and treasurer for quite a while, and he took pleasure in working for God's cause. He did not take the work in hand as a task, but rather as a God given privilege. In early life he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and until the time of his death was a loyal member at Friendship. On Sunday, May 26th, 1912, Robert was married to Miss Allie Davis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Davis, and to this happy union was given two little girls. Mrs. Gardner and little ones, Clara, aged three, and Evelyn, aged two, are left to realize the loss of a devoted husband and father's love, but we know that "God is nigh unto those who are of a broken heart." Mr. Gardner also leaves a father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Gardner, of Friendship, and four brothers and two sisters, besides scores of sympathizing friends whose prayers ascend in behalf of the dear wife and little ones left behind. Robert's daily life was evidence of the inward resolutions of the heart, and those who recall his memory can assure themselves that if they but imitated his example they, too, will have no fear of "crossing the bar" for "He looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."[1][2]                                                                                           M.V.S.

Robert Lee Gardner was a son of John Henry and Lela Emma Lowery Gardner.

His wife, Allie Davis is a daughter of William Washington Davis and Hattie Eugenia Teal Davis.

After the death of Robert Lee; Allie married Doll M. Adams and they had a daughter Dorothy, b. February 1921 and a son, Robert, b. 1926.

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[1] Robert Lee Gardner obituary, The Chesterfield Advertiser, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, 11 January 1917, page 2, columns 5 & 6.

[2] James C. Pigg, Obituaries from the Chesterfield Advertiser 1892-1926; Pages 18-19, Self-Published, 2001.The Chesterfield Advertiser, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, 11 January 1917, page 2, columns 5 & 6.