Cara Gardner

Ms. Cara Gardner, 23, passed away suddenly on Friday, January 23, 2026.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Friday, January 30, 2026 at 7pm in the Spiritual Life Center at St Peter's Catholic Church.

The family will receive friends and family at this time. Please wear your favorite t-shirt or hoodie to remember Cara.

Cara was born on June 13, 2002 to Mike and Michelle Gardner, Jr. in Greenville, NC along with her twin sister, Leia. Cara spent most of her life in Greenville, and was a 2020 graduate of the NCCA after attending South Central High School.

After graduation, Cara attended Pitt Community while working in retail. Later in life, she lived in Morehead City working at Dunkin Donuts as a shift supervisor. Cara loved her fur baby, Fallon and enjoyed spoiling her. One of her greatest enjoyments in life was thrifting or shopping at T.J. Maxx as well as Bath and Body Works

Care Bear enjoyed spending time with her family. Along with her fiance, she loved watching WWE and the Carolina Hurricanes. She loved playing video games and building Lego sets. She was a firecracker who always told you how she felt. She was a wonderful hugger and welcomed anyone into her home. Cara was always down to get a tattoo with her sisters or mother.

Cara was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Mike Gardner, Sr; and is survived by her loving fiance, Jonathan Cortez of 2 years; her parents, Mike and Michelle; 3 sisters Leia (partner Matthew Taylor), Adriana (partner Andrew Gazso), and Julianne; Maternal grandparents, Stephanie and Gary Cobb, Mike Farmer Sr; Paternal grandparents, Shirley and Ernest Jenkins, Judy Gardner; along with her many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Trevor Project at www.thetrevorproject.org since even in death she would love to continue helping others.