CBA teacher memorialized
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on March 17, 2004 2:01 PM
A Charles B. Aycock High School teacher who died from breast cancer two years ago has been memorialized in a picture plaque that will be displayed in the school library.
Shirley Gardner taught English at the school before she became ill. Phyllis Bass, adviser to the school's Latin Club, said Mrs. Gardner was a favorite among staff and students.
News-Argus/Phyllis Moore
Charles B. Aycock High School Latin Club members present a picture plaque to the school on Tuesday in memory of former teacher Shirley Gardner. From left are Summer Pittman; Stephanie Sauls; April Artis; Casey Millieson; Principal Randy Bledsoe; Mrs. Gardner's daughter, Jessica; Mrs. Gardner's husband, Bob; Phyllis Bass, adviser to the Latin Club; Jennifer Julian, Rebecca Barnes, Jessica Best and Cherylanne Caplinger.
Ms. Bass said the club chose as one of its service projects this year to remember Mrs. Gardner. A presentation was made during Tuesday's staff meeting at the school, with members of Mrs. Gardner's family in attendance.
Bob Gardner thanked the staff and students for honoring his late wife.
"It's very appreciated by me and my family that Charles B. Aycock wanted to continue to remember her," he said. "This was like her second family. She was very fond of this place and we are, too."
Daughter Jessica, 19, is a student at Wayne Community College, where she has decided to enter the teaching field. She said she had originally wanted to be a radiologist technologist but was definitely influenced by her mother's love for education.
"I'm around teachers all the time," she said. "And Wayne Community now has the education program so I decided to go there."
The Gardners also had a son, Robbie, now 16 and a student at Spring Creek High School.
Gardner said his family has established a memorial scholarship fund and contributions are being accepted through the BB&T Bank in Pikeville. He said the annual $500 scholarship is given to an English literature student picked by the school's faculty. The first one was awarded last year.