Max Gardner Jr.

1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Max Gardner, Jr., age 57, of Alpharetta, Georgia passed away on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 at his home in Alpharetta, Georgia. Max was born December 10, 1958 in Laurel, Mississippi to the late Max and Peggy Gardner. He attended Mosley High School in Panama City, Florida and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Business Law from Georgia College in Milledgeville, Georgia where he was a member of Delta Sigma Pi, Honorary Business Fraternity. He went on to earn an Executive MBA in Finance and Marketing at Stanford University in California. Over the course of his career, Max worked as a Systems Consultant and System Engineer for Oracle, Peregrine Systems and Hewlett-Packard. Max and his family attend North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, GA. Max was very involved in his community. As a proud band parent, he served as the President of the Band Booster Association and was a Founding Member and President of the Alpharetta High School Foundation. Throughout his seven years as an active band dad, not one football game, marching band competition, or band trip, near or far, was missed. Max loved his family. He attended every sporting event his girls participated in and always cheered louder than anyone else in the stands. He loved watching sports and cheering on his favorite teams, yelling from “his chair” in the family living room. Max never met a stranger, striking up conversation with anyone he encountered and leaving a lasting impression with his wit and charm. Max could find humor in any situation, was the first to tell a joke and enjoyed the final word in any discussion or debate. He is survived by his wife of 38 years and high school sweetheart, Judy Gardner of Alpharetta; daughters Emily and Abigail, both of Alpharetta; sister, Lilli Thomas and husband Bill of Greensboro, GA; brother-in-law Michael Knauss and wife Amy of Buford, GA; aunt Cindy Lancaster and husband Jim of Huntsville, AL; uncles Don “Togie” Gardner and wife Ann and Richard “Red” Gardner all of Mobile, AL; mother and father-in-law Modray and David Knauss of Panama City, Florida; nieces and nephews, Stuart Thomas and wife Casey, Susan Satterfield and husband John and Jacob Thomas and wife Carri of Greensboro, GA, and Addison and Owen Knauss of Buford, GA; great-nieces and nephews, Evan, Sidney and Hailey Satterfield, India and Gray Thomas, Braxton, Wyatt, and Elli Blake Thomas of Greensboro, GA; and a number of other aunts, uncles, and relatives as well as many friends who each held a special place in Max’s big heart. He was preceded in death by his parents Max and Peggy Gardner; grandparents Lydia and L.O. Norrell and Robert and Marie Gardner; great-aunts Bessie “Bubba” Harrison Bishop and Flossie Harrison Stallworth; and Joey Hopkins, Abigail’s college sweetheart, who was loved dearly by Max as “Joeyhop.” Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Northside Chapel in Roswell, GA with Pastor Mike Teston officiating. The family will receive friends on Friday, November 11 from 5-8 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. followed by the service at Northside Chapel. A brief graveside service will follow at Green Lawn Cemetery in Roswell, Georgia. Serving as pallbearers are Michael Knauss, Bill Thomas, Stuart Thomas, Jacob Thomas, Robert McElroy, Scott Deal, Jeff Culpepper, and Oliver Blackburn. Memorial donations may be sent to the Alpharetta High School Band Booster Association. PO Box 5188, Alpharetta, GA 30023.

Max Gardner Jr.

December 10, 1958 - November 8, 2016