NEW BERLIN – Bishop Samuel Shandell Gardner of New Berlin, formerly of Brooklyn, passed away at the age of 88 on April 9, 2008 at the Veterans St. Albans Community Living Center of the Harbor Healthcare System.
He was born Aug. 19, 1921 in Richmond, Va. He attended school in Richmond. He resided in the Sherburne area for about 30 years.
Bishop Gardner received Theological Post Graduate Training at the Bedford Bible Academy in Brooklyn. His Doctor of Divinity degree was received from the International Bible Institute, located in Desoto, Missouri. He was presiding Bishop of the Universal Church of God, Inc. and pastored for about 30 years in Brooklyn.
With Bishop Sam Gardner’s failing health and loss of eyesight, he had to retire from active ministry but he never missed church and continued to be active in the service of the Lord first with  Mark Spooner and then with Pastor Bruce Braswell at the at the Old Mill Christian Life Fellowship.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his daughters, Kessiah D. Gardner-Butler, Jean Antley, son In-law, Silas Butler, daughter-in-law Patricia Gardner, cousins Mary Golden-Miller, Willie Lewis Golden, Ann Golden - Howard and Brenda Howard grandsons, Josiah Butler and Brian Gardner, granddaughter, Christina Jones and Nicole Gardner, and three lovely great-grandchildren Jarobi, Jharde, Jahem and a host of other nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 19 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Old Mill Christian Life Fellowship, 3806 Rt 23, South Plymouth, with pastor, Rev. Bruce Braswell officiating.