Mother Ester Bell Gardner

Mother Ester Bell Gardner was born July 4, 1943, to the late Alex Nabors and Larretta Nabors in Delta, Louisiana.

She accepted Christ in 1956 at the Bellview Baptist Church of Delhi. She joined Greater Free Gift Baptist Church on December 7, 2008, and was rebaptized on May 7, 2018, under the leadership of Bishop Rodney McFarland, I. There, she was a faithful member of the Mothers’ Ministry and remained there until her death.

She was a hardworking, independent, loving, devoted and dedicated wife and mother to her family. She loved fishing, nurturing, and growing beautiful flowers, being around her children and grandchildren and most of all going to Sunday church services. She had a heart of gold but also expressed what was on her mind. No matter what challenges she faced, she believed in the power of God’s word.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alex Nabors and Larretta Nabors.

She leaves to cherish her memories: husband, Micheal Gardner; seven children, Curtis Ray (Trudy) Jones of Crowville, Louisiana, Patricia (Mike) Harris, of Houston, Texas, Barbara (Kevin) Drayton, Jerlyn (Frank) Bobo, Michael (Dalphynie) Jones, and Marcus (LaQuista) Jones, all of Monroe, Louisiana; and Laura (Terry) Ivy of Bossier City, Louisiana; three stepchildren, Michelle Kirkland of West Monroe, Louisiana, Jennifer Giles of Crowville, Louisiana, and Michael Gardner, Jr. of West Monroe, Louisiana:  eight sisters, Mary Buster (Texas City, Texas), Iretha Alford (LaMarque, Texas), Jearlean Mims (Texas City, Texas), Ernestine Holloway (LaMarque, Texas), Pearl Smithers (Dickinson, Texas), Carolyn Shannon (Dickinson, Texas), Atlene Pierce (Seabrook, Texas) and Marilyn Fanus (LaMarque, Texas). She also leaves to cherish a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many loved ones.

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