Malcolm Grady Gardner, age 84, of Huntland, TN, passed away Thursday, May 8, 2025. He was born in Lincoln County, TN on March 19, 1941, to the late J.P. and Durah H. Gardner. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by siblings: L.T. Gardner, Helen Rector, Robert Gardner, Gayle Mann, Darlene Brewer, and Cindy Gardner.

Survivors include his wife: Violet Gardner; five children: Mitchell (Regina) Gardner, Michael (Ann) Gardner, Allen (Mitzi) Gardner, Jody (Stacey) Gardner, and Karen (Jimmy) Kelley; one brother: Dwight (Patsy) Gardner; eleven grandchildren: Robert Justice (Misty Pickett), Randall Justice, Josh (Sarah) Gardner, Dakota Gardner, Craig Gardner, Montana Gardner, Jill Gardner, Trey (Denae) Kelley, Grace Barton, Brooklyn (Caleb) Urich, and Gabriel Barton; four great-grandchildren: Emily Justice, Addyson Gardner, Grady Gardner, and Reese Pepper.

Malcolm was a friend’s friend. He never met a stranger and impacted so many lives. He just had a way to make people feel loved and special. He loved and cherished his wife of 63 years. He loved his family and loved showing them off any chance he got.

He along with close friends and family founded the Huntland Pentecostal Church on Lee Lane in 1977. A few years after starting the church, he and his family moved directly behind the church. With his love of basketball, he helped erect a gymnasium at HPC.

He was a Union Boilermaker of the Local 454 out of Chattanooga for approximately 30 years. He was known to be a great craftsman in the boilermaker trade and one of the best welders of the Local 454.

He was an ordained licensed minister of Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ from 1979 to 2003, an ordained licensed minister of United Pentecostal Church International from 2003 to present. He served as district chairmen in both the AL and TN districts of the ALJC. He was a board member of the Blue Mountain Children’s Home in Blue Mountain, MS. He received a life time achievement award from the UPCI TN District in 2019.

He loved sports, especially basketball. He loved music and playing and singing, especially southern gospel. In his retirement years, he loved sitting on his front porch with his precious wife watching the humming birds, visiting with friends and family, and especially watching the many activities going on at HPC.

Funeral services will be held Monday, May 19, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at Huntland Pentecostal Church with Bro. Johnny Cash, Bro. Jimmy Kelley, Bro. Trey Kelley, and Bro. Mitchell Gardner officiating. Visitation will be Sunday evening, May 18, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and prior to the service on Monday evening, May 19, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Huntland Pentecostal Church. Burial will follow graveside services, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

Gallant-Riverview Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Malcolm Grady Gardner.