Sharon Gardner

Sharon O. Woods Gardner, 59, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 14, 2013. She was born to Ruby Woods and Paul Winston Jr., on Oct.30, 1953.She was preceded in death by her brother, Kenneth LeBron; father, Paul Winston Jr.; and grandparents, Claude and Ola Woods Sr., Paul and Olivia Winston Sr.; three uncles, James O. Woods Sr., Donald Winston, Arthur McElderry.Sharon was educated in the Chattanooga School System. She was a 1971 graduate of Brainerd High School. She also graduated from Chattanooga State Tech College with honors and attended UTC. She was a member of Second Missionary Baptist Church.Left to cherish her loving memory is her three sons, Derrick B. Jackson, Marquis (Inah) Gardner, of Albertville, Ga., and Brandon P. Gardner; a loving and devoted mother, Mrs. Ruby Woods Mathis; five loving grandchildren, Kiara B. Jackson, of Nashville; Marchiah Gardner, Marquis Gardner Jr., Braniah Gardner, Brandon Gardner Jr.; three sisters, Paulette (Burnell) White, of San Antonio, Texas, Rita (Anthony) Cooke, San Antonio, and Anita Greene, of Fort Worth, Texas; three uncles, Claude (Mary) Woods, of Quincy, Mass., Robert (Delores) Winston, of Dallas, Texas and James Winston, of Atlanta; five aunts, Leola McElderry of Munford, Ala., Alma (Herman) Simmons, of Atlanta, Eloise Walters of New Jersey, Mary Nell Hill and Lillie Woods, of Chattanooga; loving and caring godparents, Deacon Edward and Sister Atheria Freeman; two step-brothers, Kenneth and Wendell Mathis; very special friends (like sisters), Linda OHara Stargins, Theresa Hines, Darlene Bray; special friend and caretaker, Mary Robinson; godchildren, Eric Watkins, Donella and DeAngelo F. Newsom; god-sister, Denise (Howard) Sales; devoted cousin, Sarah Anderson; a host of other cousins and loving friends.Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 23, 2013 at Second Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Paul A. McDaniel officiating.Interment in Lakewood Memory Gardens, East.The body will lie in state after noon today and the family will receive friends from 78 p.m. at John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Avenue, 622-9995.