Annie (Anne) Southall Gardner

Annie Maude (Anne) Southall Gardner, died peacefully on Thursday, December 21, 2023. Anne was born in Warrenton, N.C., and was a resident of Newport News, VA for the past 35 years. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Matthew Lee Gardner, her parents, John P. Southall and Maude Linwood Alford; and her brother John P. Southall, Jr of Inez, NC. She was a graduate of John Graham High School in Warrenton, NC and Women's College of University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Anne retired in 1995 after 27 years of government service. The last thirteen of those years she worked at Ft. Monroe which she greatly enjoyed. After retiring she worked part-time at the Hampton Public Library for ten and a half years.

She will be remembered for her sense of humor, her generosity, her love for animals, especially beagles and cats, her grandchildren, coffee, tennis, books, poppies, art, clothes, VWs, as well as her sweet tooth, her amazing typing skills, and her days as a swim team mom.

She is survived by her two daughters, Lee Anne Gardner-Warrenfells and her husband Edward of Austin, Texas; Amy Gardner Ward and her husband Vincent of Newport News, VA; and four granddaughters, Lydia Anne Ward, Chloe Marie Ward, Ardis Larue Warrenfells, and Lenia Gardner Warrenfells. The family wishes to express a special thank you to the staff for the love and care she was given in the Memory Care Unit at Mennowood Retirement Community, and to Heartland Hospice.

The family will have a private burial. A visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Ave Hampton, VA 23666. Donations may be made to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), 523 J. Clyde Morris Blvd, Newport News, VA 23601.