Mrs. Bertha M. Gardner

"And GOD shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, no crying, neither shall there be any more pain.

Mrs. Bertha Mae (Brown) Gardner, 94, was born in Solgohachia, AK on August 31, 1931 (always celebrated on August 8), to Worth Littlejohn & Bertha Hunt. She was a devoted wife majority of her life and mother of 10. She confessed Christ at an early age at United Baptist Hope Well Presbyterian Church and later attended Philadelphia Baptist Church in Menifee, AK. She was baptized there and married James Osler, and to this union 2 sons were born. In 1952 she relocated to Kansas City, MO and became a member of Morning Star Baptist Church. In 1965 she married LS Brown and to this union 6 children were born, and she also earned a bonus daughter that she helped raise. She later gave birth to 2 more girls. In 1970 she became a dedicated member of Scared Light Baptist Church under the late Rev. IB Rentie for 30yrs where she served on the mother board, culinary & usher ministry and sang her heart out in the choir. The past 10 plus years she attended Ambassadors for Christ in Christ Non-Denominational under Bishop Chris Franklin.

In 1979, Bertha married Marvin C. Gardner who loved and cherished her for 17yrs before his passed in 1996.

Bertha was a hard and committed worker for Menorah Medical Center, Eat & Run, Royals Stadium, Velvet Freeze Ice Cream Shop, and retired from TG&Y Department Store. She loved to travel and take bus tours yearly, and one thing about Bert she loved Bingo.

Bertha was recognized with 2 prestigious honors:

She was inducted into "The New Era District Jr. Matrons Auxiliary" in 1965, and The TJB Foundation presented her with "Unsung Octogenarian Citizens Award" in 2016.

Bertha was preceded in death by both parents Worth Littlejohn and Bertha Hunt, her husband, Marvin C. Gardner, 2 children, Robert Osler and Joyce Brown, siblings, Tyree and WJ Littlejohn and Ellen Jones, 3 grandchildren, Morgan Brown, Carlos Hill Jr. and Miracle Francis, and her bonus daughter, Dorthy Ann White.

Bertha leaves to cherish her memories 8 children: James (Curtis) Osler, Cathy Sodie, Lynn Brown, Jeanette Fraizer (Glenn), Gwendolyn Cunningham (Maurice), Lori Brown, Tonia Brown, Brenda Kidd (Henry III); 21 Grandchildren: Shaunetta, Sonya, Charles, Jamesetta, Tamika, Dominique, Dontay, Sherry, Brandon, Ronald, Zukea, Erin, Daniel, Reginald, Henry IV, Derell, Porscha, Anthony, Tyree, Darrion, James Jr.; 45 Great-Grandchildren; 24 Great-Great-Grandchildren; 5 Great-Great-Great Grandchildren, and a host of other relatives that called her Moma and Aunt Bertha that loved her unconditionally.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Sunlight Missionary Baptist Church 4444 Woodland Ave KCMO 64110. Interment: Leavenworth National Cemetery. Visitation: 9 – 11:00 a.m. at the Church. Arrangements entrusted to Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapels. Condolences may be shared on our website lawrenceajones.com