Jeannie Crans Haley Gardner

Published 11:32 am Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Jeannie Crans Haley Gardner passed away suddenly Monday, Feb. 21, 2011, at River Region Medical Center at the age of 64.

Mrs. Gardner was a native of Houston, Miss. She graduated from Houston High School and attended Mississippi State University. After working for the law firm of Young, Young & Scanlon of Jackson, she moved to Vicksburg in 1974 and began a lifetime career as a legal assistant with Wheeless, Bailess, Shappley and Rector, attorneys at law, primarily assisting Robert R. Bailess until her death.

As an active and dedicated member of CrossPoint Church, formerly First Methodist Protestant, Mrs. Gardner served as pianist. For many years, she served as the secretary for the Official Church Board, advisory positions for the Church Daycare, and on the school board for the former First Methodist Protestant Church School. She was involved each year in the Vacation Bible School program for the church.

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Mrs. Gardner was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Hazel Crans of Houston; and her first husband, Wiltsie J. Haley.

She is lovingly survived by her husband, Donald W. Gardner of Vicksburg; her daughter, Brooke Raymond (Tom) of Weirton, W.Va.; twin sons, Brett Haley (fiancé Jenna) of Baltimore, Md., and Blake Haley of Ocean City, Md.; sister, Judy Ellis (Jamie) of Tupelo; granddaughter, Paden Raymond, and grandson, Mackenzie Raymond of Weirton; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at CrossPoint Church, 510 Porters Chapel Road, with the Rev. Robert Andrews presiding. The Rev. E.L. Sharp, pastor of Lighthouse Baptist, will assist. Visitation will be held at Riles Funeral Home from 5 until 7 tonight and also from 9 a.m. until the hour of service at the church on Thursday. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be James Mason, Mike Herrington, Nathan Busby, Wesley Cunningham, Bill Bagley and James Hull.

Honorary pallbearers will be the active and past members of the Official Boards and Trustees of CrossPoint and First Methodist Protestant Church.

Special honorary pallbearers will be the partners and staff members of the Wheeless, Bailess, Shappley & Rector Law Firm: John C Wheeless Jr., Robert R. Bailess, William L. Shappley Jr., Kenneth B. Rector, Allison M. Brewer, Stephen L. McMillin, Ginger Browning, Brittney Hopkins and Jennifer Gullett.

Memorials may be made to CrossPoint Church Building Fund, 510 Porters Chapel Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180.