The Wake
Friday, November 8, 2013 - 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
NORTHSIDE CHURCH OF GOD
2520 Northwest 103rd Street, Miami, Florida 33147 Reverend Dr. Mark A. Gardner, Senior Pastor
Order of Service
Reverend Arnetta McNeese, Presiding Executive Director, Christian Women Connection, Anderson, Indiana Music Prelude.......................................................................................................................................... Welcome/Worship................................................................................................................................... Prayer of Invocation................................................................................................................................. Praise & Worship....................Brother J. Allen & Brother Benson Derosier (Combined Worship Team) Tributes & Reflections....................................... Please limit your statments to two minutes, thank you. Local and out of town Pastors Local and out of town Family and Friends Solo........................................................................................................................................................... Tributes & Reflections....................................... Please limit your statments to two minutes, thank you. Local Community Leaders and Elected Officials Praise & Worship..................... Brother J. Allen & Brother Benson Derosier (Combined Worship Team) Benediction.............................................................................................................................................. Light Refreshments will be served following the wake next door in the adjacent building.
Celebration of Life Saturday, November 9, 2013 – 11:00 AM
COMMUNITY CHURCH OF GOD
1300 Northwest 19th Court, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 Reverend Dr. James C. Eubanks, Senior Pastor
Order of Service
Reverend Dr. Arthur W. Davenport, Presiding Senior Pastor, First Church of God, Far Rockaway, New York Music Prelude................................................................................................................................... Processional........................................................................................ Clergy Officials & The Family Medley of Praise & Worship...................................................................The Combined Mass Choir The Holy Scripture Readings Old Testament, Psalm 46.......................................... Pastor Mark Nelson (Brother-in-law) Youth Pastor, Solid Rock Church of God, Kissimmee, Florida
New Testament, John 14:1-6................................................................ Pastor Michael Hill Associate Minister, Church of God of North Dade, Opa-locka, Florida
Musical Selection........................................................................................“Smile”, Brother J. Allen Northside Church of God, Miami, Florida Prayer of Comfort for the Mashack Gardner Family..................... Reverend Dr. James C. Eubanks Expressions of Love & Affection................Please limit your statments to two minutes, thank you. Reverend Dr. Thomas Scott, Presiding Elder, Florida State Association of the Church of God Reverend Dr. Charles Myricks, Jr., National Association of the Church of God, West Middlesex, Pennsylvania A Representative of Church of God Ministries, Anderson, Indiana Reverend Dr. James C. Eubanks, Community Church of God, Representing South Florida Pastors Musical Selection..................................................................... “Higher Ground”, The Combined Mass Choir Expressions of Love & Affection...................... Please limit your statments to two minutes, thank you.
Elder Diana Eubanks, Vice Chairperson, The Florida State Christian Women Connection Reverend Dr. Arnetta McNeese, Executive Director, Christian Women Connection, Anderson, IN Reverend George Martin, Pastor, Sanctuary Church, Indianapolis, Indiana (Representing College friends) Minister Paul Nicholson, Representing Northside Church of God, Miami, Florida
Musical Selection............................................................................................................ Sister Jare Blenman Solid Rock Church of God, Kissimmee, Florida Expressions of Love & Affection......................................................................................................................
The Children and Husband Tehela Sheree Gardner, Levi Mark Gardner and Reverend Dr. Mark A. Gardner Northside Church of God, Miami, Florida The Reading of the Obituary............................................................................... Sister Rachel Nelson (Sister) Solid Rock Church of God, Kissimmee, Florida Video Presentation................................................................................ Reverend Baron C. Mashack (Brother) Senior Pastor, 15th Avenue Church of God, Fort Lauderdale, Florida Musical Selection................................................................................................. The Combined Mass Choir Introduction of the Eulogist.................................................................................. Reverend Dr. Thomas Scott Senior Pastor, 34th Street Church of God, Tampa, Florida Musical Selection................................................................................................. The Combined Mass Choir Message of Comfort & Hope...................................................................................Bishop Timothy J. Clarke Senior Pastor, First Church of God, Columbus, Ohio Acknowledgements and Final View............................ Hall Ferguson Hewitt Funeral Home - Miami, Florida Benediction.................................................................................................Reverend Dr. Arthur W. Davenport Senior Pastor, First Church of God, Far Rockaway, New York Recessional........................................................................................................ Clergy Officials & The Family
Interment
Tuesday, November 12, 2013 Hillcrest Cemetery – 104 North Gum Street, Summerville, South Carolina 29483
Repast
Immediately following the Celebration of Life the family will be receiving guests and friends at the repast in the Dining Hall.
Sheree Lorraine Gardner “A Daughter of God”
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you (Sheree) surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31: 25-31 (NIV)
Sheree Lorraine Gardner, the baby daughter of Aaron and Marian Mashack (deceased) entered this life on Wednesday, February 16, 1972 in Bronx, New York. Sheree was a very happy child, who often spent her time spreading cheer. Her family began to notice her gift for singing around the age of two at the Congregational Church of God, Harlem, New York. First Lady Ruth Aaron, who was the Senior Choir director, was known for hitting the high notes in during a song. Well, one Sunday on cue, Sister Ruth Aaron hit one of her notes and Sheree hit one too. In her mom’s embarrassment, Sister Marion Mashack covered Sheree’s mouth but she would not be silent. That’s when we realized that this girl loved to sing. In her teenage years, Sheree entered Harry S. Truman High School, where she made her debut in a concert singing “Through the Fire” by Chaka Khan. As soon as she opened her mouth, the crowd went wild and a “Star was born”. Sheree made an indelible mark in her community with her singing under the direction of her chorus teacher, Dennis Bell. She traveled all over the city of New York singing back up for the world renowned, Grammy winning rock band, U2 and singing their theme song, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”. This song is still played on the radio and Sheree was one of the background singers for the soundtrack in the movie, “U2: Rattle and Hum”. Sheree enrolled in Anderson University, Anderson, Indiana in August of 1990 and began singing around the country with a group called Fruit of the Spirit. Oh, how she enjoyed this platform and used it to the GLORY of God to spread the gospel and soothe people’s souls with her melodic sounds. Her years in Anderson were the highlight of her life. She made so many good friends and established a good solid foundation as a woman of God. Singing for the Lord was Sheree’s first
love. She had opportunities to go to the Apollo and to sing with one of the Winans but she turned both opportunities down because she did not want to lose control of the gift that God had placed within her. She understood that with singing professionally, she could run the risk of having her standards compromised and under no circumstances was she willing to do that. Sheree graduated from Anderson University in 2005 with a degree in Organizational Leadership. In 1997, Sheree met and married the love of her life, the Reverend Dr. Mark A. Gardner and to this union two children were born: Tehela Sheree and Levi Mark Gardner. Together, they pastored Northside Church of God in Miami, Florida. The only thing, Sheree loved more than her music was her family. Anyone who knows the Gardners, knows that Sheree and Mark were very much in love. They never hid their affection and that example will always be admired. Sheree’s children were her world as she could often be heard singing with them and sharing stories from her childhood. They have both received her gift of music. The one word that described Sheree the best is “love”. If you were ever around Sheree for more than a few seconds, you would know that Sheree was a loving soul. Sheree loved to play matchmaker and was determined to help others find their soul mate. There were no strangers around Sheree and if you were a friend of a friend, then you were automatically her friend. She loved with such authenticity and sought to help anyone in need. She was a party waiting to happen and if you needed a shoulder to cry on Sheree would give it to you. Sheree had music in her soul and has sung for many weddings, church services and other special occasions for her friends. Sheree’s voice can still be heard in the hearts of those, who love her as we all have a special song that she deposited within us. Her home was an open door to friends and family and she always made room for you to stay over when you were in town. She had a way of making you feel so special as though you were the only one in the world that mattered. Sheree will be greatly missed. She was such a genuinely beautiful person inside and out and we will never be the same because she has graced our presence and taught us how to love. Sheree Lorraine Gardner leaves to cherish her memory: husband, Reverend Dr. Mark A. Gardner; daughter, Tehela Gardner; son, Levi Gardner; father, Aaron Mashack; brother, Baron (Denise) Mashack; sister, Rachel (Mark) Nelson; and nieces and nephews, Brandon, Deja, Mark II, Mitchell and Myla. She also leaves the Northside Church of God and a host of friends and family. Sheree your spirit is too big to be forgotten. The space you hold in our hearts will never be replaced but what we can do is keep living for the Lord and we will see you again. We will love you forever!
Acknow ledgements
The Mashack Gardner family is extremely grateful to all who have helped us in this time of transition. Words can never express our deep sense of gratitude for your letters, cards, phone calls, words of assurance, and rendering of many kinds deeds. Please know that we feel truly blessed to have wonderful caring people like you in our lives. May God bless each and every one of you!
Professional Services Entrusted to:
Professional Services Entrusted to Hall Ferguson Hewitt Funeral Home 1900 Northwest 54th Street, Miami, Florida 33142 Telephone: 305-633-0688
Program Designed & Printed By:
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