Viola Murphy Gardner, 97, of Maddox, Maryland died at St. Mary's Hospital, Leonardtown, MD on Tuesday, December 7, 2010.

Mrs. Gardner was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on November 4, 1913 the daughter of the late Edward Murphy and Viola Belle Harding Murphy. After graduating from the Berean School in Philadelphia, she attended Howard University and later received her B.A. and M.S. Degrees in Adult Education-Administration from Federal City College (now the University of the District of Columbia). She held positions with the State of Pennsylvania, the Federal Government, and Howard University. At the start of World War II, she left Howard and joined the staff of the National American Red Cross. She was assigned to duty in London as a staff assistant and later became the Assistant Club Director for a large club for service men. In 1945, while stationed in London, she met her future husband, George "Joe" Gardner, who served in the U.S. Navy.

After the war, she returned to the U.S. and became a secretary to a judge in the D.C. Court of General Sessions. Later, she became an Administrative Assistant to a Federal Magistrate. She retired from Federal Service in 1971. She then served as the Assistant to the Board of Commissioners for St. Mary's County and later as Administrative Assistant to the Director of the St. Mary's City Commission. She retired a second time in 1975. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner were entrepreneurs and owners of one of St. Mary's County's premier inns, The Brambly Inn at Longview Beach, until his passing. They were married for over fifty years.

Throughout her life, Mrs. Gardner has dedicated herself to service in her community. Organizations in which Mrs. Gardner was associated include; The St. Clement's Hundred, The Board for the St. Clements Island-Potomac River Museum, The Board for Christmas in April, The St. Mary's Chapter of the Delicados, The St. Mary's Chapter of the American Red Cross, The African American Coalition, The Democratic Club of St. Mary's County, the NAACP, various groups associated with her church, (All Saints Episcopal Church and The Episcopal Diocese of Washington), and many other organizations.

The recipient of numerous awards, Mrs. Gardner has been recognized by the St. Mary's Chapter, of the American Red Cross with it's Clara Barton Medal for Meritorious Service as a Volunteer; recognized by the Maryland Governor Glendening as a Maryland Woman of Achievement; Inductee in 1999 into the Seniors Hall of Fame for the State of Maryland; St. Mary's Woman of the Year; Volunteer of the Year for St. Mary's Hospital; Human relations Award from the St. Mary's County Human Relations Commission; 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award from the St. Mary's Commission for Women; and many other honors and recognitions that are too numerous to list.

Ms. Gardner was recently quoted in the Southern Maryland News, "If she could turn back time, she would do it all over again, with one exception.. I would even try to do more than I did, she said. It's fulfilling. You get great satisfaction out of helping somebody else and you have that feeling that you have done something good for someone" Mrs. Gardner devoted her free time to her community, running the Brambly Inn, and spending time with her friends and family.

Mrs. Gardner was predeceased by her husband George W. Gardner, and her siblings sister's Mary Jones, Eleanor Davis, Doris Murphy, and brother George Murphy. She is survived by Madeline Guinn, niece, Waymon Guinn, nephew, Jenifer Guinn, niece, Danielle Daniels, niece and many nieces, nephews and Grand nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to Mrs. Gardner's Life Celebration at the Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 from 11:00 to 1:00 PM, followed by funeral service at 1:00 PM with the Reverend Doctor Kathleen Vermillion Price, rector of All Saints Episcopal Church officiating.

Interment will follow in All Saints Episcopal Church Cemetery, Oakley, MD with Pallbearers DeSales Tyer, Brian Trivers, Joseph Harris, Gerald Draper, Waymon Guinn, and Dennis Felton. Honorary Pallbearers Bernard Lucas, Melvin Rogers, Richard Gass, Theodore Newkirk and James Voss.

Arrangements provided by Brinsfield Funeral Home.