July 17, 1925 – Oct. 23, 2019

Natchez – Services for Inez Smith Gardner, 94, who died Wednesday, October 23, 2019, in Natchez, will be at 11:00 a.m. on today at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Stephen Wyles officiating.
Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time today at the funeral home.
Mrs. Gardner was born July 17, 1925, in Bogue Chitto, the daughter of Harvey Smith and Virgie Hart Smith.
Mrs. Gardner worked in the lab at Armstrong Tire Company, where she met her husband, Roy H. Gardner.  She also worked as a teacher’s aide in the Natchez school system.  She was an avid reader, sports fan, and a devoted mother.  She encouraged higher education for all of her family.  Mrs. Gardner valued her Christian faith, and raised her family in that tradition.  She was a long-term member of Morgantown Baptist Church.  Having survived the Great Depression, she was part of the generation who strove to make the most of every financial opportunity.
Mrs. Gardner was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three brothers; two sisters; and son-in-law, Quinton Aucoin.
Survivors include three daughters, Wanda Horne and husband, Rutledge, of Ferriday, Laura Aucoin of Vidalia, and Brenda Scoggin and husband, Clay, of Alexandria, Louisiana; two sons, Ronnie Gardner and wife, Rose, of Baton Rouge, and Prentiss Gardner and wife, Ellen, of Brandon; 12 grandchildren; 20 great- grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Pallbearers will be Rut Horne IV, Bill Horne IV, Matthew Horne, Jon Gardner, Daymon Gardner, Daniel Scoggin and Jake Scoggin.
Honorary pallbearers will be Rut Horne, Clay Scoggin, Rudy Horne, Brandon Horne, Seth Horne and Eli Horne.
Memorials may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or Morgantown Baptist Church.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.