Funeral services were held Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021, at Jefferson Davis High School Gymnasium, Bassfield for Mr. McKenzie Neal Gardner, 36, who died Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg. Rev. David Lesueur officiated with interment following in Sweetwater C. M.E. Church Cemetery in Bassfield. Johnson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mr. McKenzie Gardner was born to Mr. Larry Neal and Mrs. Mary Gardner in Hattiesburg and was raised in Bassfield. He attended Bassfield Elementary and High School and finished his last year at Prentiss High School. He was a member of St. Paul Baptist Church in Bassfield and often attended Shady Grove Baptist Church in Hattiesburg.

He was a hardworking young man who started his first job at Ward’s in Bassfield, Sam’s Club, his own lawn service and later driving trucks for Budweiser, Luvel/Prarie Farms, Dupree Gas and Dickerson Petroleum Transportation and Services.

Mr Gardner enjoyed hunting, fishing, riding horses, four wheelers and motorcycles. His favorite football team was the Philadelphia Eagles. He was closely affiliated with MPH Motorcycle Club of Hattiesburg. He was a Mason and member of Piney Grove Lodge #610A.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Robert and Arlevia Longino Gardner; maternal grandparents, W. V. and Iccie Hathorn; father-in-law, M. C. Barnes.

He is survived by his wife, Melissa; son, Amar Arrington; daughters, Michelle and Moriah Gardner all of Petal; mother, Mary Gardner of Bassfield; father, Larry Gardner of Prentiss; two sisters, LaShunda Gardner of Hattiesburg; Tawanda Smith of Brookhaven; three brothers, Jeremy Gardner of Hattiesburg; Robert Hubbard of prentiss and Byron Smith of Brookhaven; special cousin, Jason Gardner of Prentiss; mother-in-law, Verda Barnes of Hattiesburg and many other relatives and friends.