Goldsboro-On the evening of Thursday, June 20, an angel came down
from Heaven and took Shirley Spence Gardner of Goldsboro home to be
with the Lord. Only 46, her passing came after a long and courageous
battle with breast cancer. Shirley was the daughter of Hilda F.
Spence and the late Milton Spence Jr. of Kinston. She was a graduate
of Ayden-Grifton High School and received a Bachelor's degree in
English from Atlantic Christian College, now known as Barton
College, in Wilson. A teacher of high school English and Literature
for fourteen years, she taught the last eleven years at Charles B.
Aycock High School in Wayne County. She also taught for three years
at Havelock High School in Craven County. Shirley was certified to
teach Advance Placement English, and on two occasions during her
career was recognized in Who's Who Among High School Teachers Of
America. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Goldsboro.
In addition to her mother, she leaves on earth to cherish her
memory, husband, Robert R. Gardner Jr.; daughter, Jessica L.
Gardner; and son, Robert R. Gardner III, all of the home. Also
surviving are sisters, Carol Ann and husband, Jerry John of Dothan,
Alabama, Linda and husband, Alton Wallace of Kinston; brothers,
Billy Joe Spence and wife, Rhonda, James Allen Spence, all of
Kinston; half-sisters, Margie Boling of Shawnee, Oklahoma, Mary
Shepherd of Davenport, Iowa and Barbara Spangler of Augusta,
Georgia; half-brothers, Louie Leach Jr. of Indianapolis, Indiana and
Leonard Leach of Radcliff, Kentucky. She also leaves two aunts,
Myrtle Andrews of Kinston and Margaret Jellison of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.
A visitation is scheduled for Saturday, June 22nd at 6 p.m. from
Seymour Funeral Home, Goldsboro. A memorial service will be held at
the First Presbyterian Church in Goldsboro on Sunday, June 23rd at 2
p.m. with Dr. William Hufham officiating. She will be interred at
Pinelawn Memorial Park, Kinston, following the memorial service. In
lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Shirley Spence Gardner
Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o BB&T, P.O. Box 8, Fremont, NC 27830.
Arrangements are by Seymour Funeral Home, Goldsboro.
Goldsboro-On the evening of Thursday, June 20, an angel came down
from Heaven and took Shirley Spence Gardner of Goldsboro home to be
with the Lord. Only 46, her passing came after a long and courageous
battle with breast cancer. Shirley was the daughter of Hilda F.
Spence and the late Milton Spence Jr. of Kinston. She was a graduate
of Ayden-Grifton High School and received a Bachelor's degree in
English from Atlantic Christian College, now known as Barton
College, in Wilson. A teacher of high school English and Literature
for fourteen years, she taught the last eleven years at Charles B.
Aycock High School in Wayne County. She also taught for three years
at Havelock High School in Craven County. Shirley was certified to
teach Advance Placement English, and on two occasions during her
career was recognized in Who's Who Among High School Teachers Of
America. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Goldsboro.