Edd & Gertrude Gardener

Year Inducted: 2024

Edd Frank Gardner was born in Hillsville, Virginia on July 12, 1902. He was educated in Carroll county public schools and entered William and Mary College in 1921. After receiving a teacher’s certificate, he became the principal and a teacher at Woodlawn Elementary School in Woodlawn, Virginia. In 1925, he completed an academic program at National Business College.

Gertrude Orleana Webb was born on December 3, 1901 in Laurel Fork, Virginia. She was educated in Carroll county public schools and entered Radford College in 1922. After receiving a teacher’s certificate, she taught school at Woodlawn Elementary School in Woodlawn Virginia.

On May 13, 1925, Edd Gardner and Gertrude Webb married. Two children were born to this union- Mary Lee Gardner Culler and William Edward Gardner. As a family, they moved to North Wilkesboro in 1936 with plans to establish Carolina Mirror Corporation.

Operation began in 1937 on B Street with 20 employees. At the time Edd resigned in 1961, the company had grown into the world’s largest mirror manufacturing industry employing over 500 people in its present location on the Elkin Highway.

In 1962, he and his son-in-law, Don Culler, began Gardner Mirror Corporation in a new modern facility just east of their previous location which included advanced processes for mirror production. Gardner Mirror is still in production today under new ownership.

During their life in Wilkes county, First United Methodist Church played a significant role in their lives. Edd served on the board of stewards, the board of trustees and the building committee. Gertrude served as president of the Woman’s Society Christian Service, organized a circle of young women- The Gardner Circle, taught Sunday school and served as superintendent. In 1958, for her five year old granddaughter, she organized a church weekday kindergarten and became its first chairman which is still in operation today as a preschool.

Together, they focused on Wilkes General Hospital where he served on the board of trustees and she organized and became the first president of the Hospital Auxiliary, organized the Pink Ladies and the Dr. Fred Hubbard Scholarship Program.

While he served on the Board of Directors of the Northwestern Bank and was a founding member of the Wilkes YMCA and Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, Gertrude served as president of the North Wilkesboro Woman’s Club, was a founding member of the Garden Path Club, served as its president and became district director of North Carolina Garden Clubs. From its inception, she was active in the promotion of the Wilkes County Public Library and instrumental in the organization of Friends of the Library.

Edd’s career as a businessman and community leader was closely related to the industrial growth of Wilkes county. However, it was his cherished role as a humanitarian that set him apart. With an extraordinary love of his fellow man and a kind and generous heart, there was a strong motivation to do good works. With an unyielding belief in higher education, he paid for an advanced degree for numerous Wilkes county high school graduates. In addition, he assisted families that were in need with advice or monetary support. And in the end, he would refuse to be recognized for his generosity.

Gertrude was born in a time when very few women were given the opportunity for a college education and a career outside the home. Upon graduation from high school, her desire was to pursue a degree in architecture. Unfortunately, only men were allowed to apply to this academic program. As an alternative, she was informed that she could become a teacher only to later be disqualified from that career at the time of her marriage. She was never deterred by the roadblocks that society imposed upon women. Instead, she turned her attention to service to others often focusing on the roles available for the advancement of women.

Using their extraordinary intelligence, capabilities and resources, they spent 50 years in dedication to the betterment of Wilkes county. Gertrude died in July of 1988 and Edd died in November of 1988.