By Billy Davis

Funeral services for Dr. Joe Gardner, who passed away Monday from a heart attack, will be Sunday at 1 p.m. in Batesville. He was 68.

The Sunday service will be held at Batesville Junior High School, with visitation from noon until the service begins. Rev. Zannie Leland will officiate.

A memorial service for Gardner is planned for Saturday at 4 p.m. at Cooley’s Mortuary, which is in charge of arrangements for both services.

The memorial service Saturday will also include visitation, starting at 10 a.m. until the 4 p.m. service.
Gardner was serving as District 11 state representative when he died at his home, not long after speaking at a legislative breakfast in Senatobia.

He was elected to the legislature in 2007 and chaired the House Ethics Committee.
 
Gardner served as pastor of Greater Concord M.B. Church west of Batesville, and he held a variety of business interests and titles during his lifetime. Among them was teaching school in the North Panola school system and operating a truck-driving school.

Gardner also retired from the Mississippi Army National Guard after serving in the U.S. Army. He was a Vietnam-era veteran. 

He is survived by his wife, Ella Gardner, daughter Chandra Armilla Thompson, two brothers, and a grandchild.