Joyce Mench Gardner

CENTER CROSS - Joyce Mench Gardner, 69, died unexpectedly Saturday, Oct. 13, 2001, at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. She was born in Rock Hall, Md., on Feb. 26, 1932, and attended Rock Hall High School. She received her Virginia Real Estate License in the 1970s and sold real estate in the area for more than 25 years. She was also the owner of Joyce's Fabric Boutique in the late '70s. She enjoyed family, friends, fishing, sewing and shopping. She is survived by her loving husband of 41 years, Neal E. Gardner; stepdaughter, Dorothy Hundley; step-granddaughter, Shannon Dickens; sisters, Thelma Bigelow of Chestertown, Md., Betty Bigelow of Corsica Hills Nursing Home and Mary Ann Spencer of Elkton Md.; and many nieces and nephews. Her parents, one sister and two brothers preceded her in death. She also will be missed by Cocoa, Blackie and Tammy, her faithful companions. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 16, from Olive Branch Christian Church in Norge, Va. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at Nelsen Funeral Home, Williamsburg.