Jane Thomson Gardner passed from this earthly life on May 30, 2024 to be at home with Christ, believing His words from John 14 that His Father's house has many rooms and He would return for her after preparing a place for her there.  She said recently, "I think my house is ready".  Thankfully this same promise is available to all who call on the name of the Lord and they will be saved.

Jane was born January 2, 1941 to the late William and Nell Thomson of Concord, NC and was preceded in death by her beloved younger sister, Nancy Cornwell Collins. After a happy childhood and forming friendships that have lasted to this day, she graduated from St. Andrews Presbyterian College of Laurinburg, NC, and went on to become wife to her high school sweetheart, Brown, in 1964.  Through her school years she kept a list of nice boys in her diary and said Brown's name was always at the top of the list.  After having lived in NC most of their married lives in such places as Concord, Fayetteville, Durham for 40 years, and in Waxhaw for five years beside Christy's family, they moved recently to The Bungalows at Indian Land, SC.

Surviving Jane are her husband of 59 years, Ovid Brown Gardner; her two daughters, Elizabeth Hildreth and her husband, Dave, of Summerfield, NC and Christy Burch and her husband, Marcus, of Waxhaw, NC; six grandchildren, Sam Hildreth (wife Reagan), Alec Hildreth, Zane Burch (wife Alexis), Liberty Burch, Talon Burch (wife Summer), and Levi Burch; two brothers-in-law, Bud Gardner of Concord, NC and Tom Collins of Charlotte, NC; and nieces, nephews, dear cousins and friends whom Jane cherished and who loved her well.

Jane was a faithful wife, loving mother, proud grandmother and loyal friend.  Her choice of jobs and interests testify to her being an extreme extrovert and revolved around two things - serving people and having fun!  She worked as a teacher/tutor, social worker, homemaker and volunteer at church and with her local chapter of Foundation Fighting Blindness.  And she socialized regularly by hosting/attending social events like bridge, dinner club, The Red Hats, family vacations, Bible studies at church and neighborhood parties. If Jane wasn't making friends and planning ways to encourage others, she was decorating for the seasons and cooking up her next April Fools Day joke. Jane and Brown traveled to 49 US states, enjoyed many happy times at their N. Myrtle Beach condo, took several trips abroad, stayed healthy with daily walks and have been dedicated partners to each other through health issues like Jane's cancer and retinal blindness and Brown's recent dementia diagnosis.  They received a lot of support from fellow members of Banks Presbyterian Church, from their family and from very special caregivers, Kim Hinson, Liz Reagan and granddaughter, Liberty.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00am at Banks Presbyterian Church on Thursday, June 6, 2024; 10012 New Town Road; Waxhaw, North Carolina 28173. A reception will follow.

Condolences may be sent to 8022 New Town Road; Waxhaw, North Carolina 28173 or emailed to christyburch@mac.com.  Donations can be made in Jane's memory to Foundation Fighting Blindness; P.O. Box 45740; Baltimore, MD 21297-5740 or online at fightingblindness.org

Shared memories and condolences may be sent to the family by selecting Tribute Wall.

A service of Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home Burgaw Chapel.