Jeanette Stanton Gardner, 88: Known for her flower shops, expertise
At the time, Mrs. Gardner had just turned 50 and knew little about horticulture or floral design and nothing about running a business, according to a former flower shop partner of hers, Wilna Mullis of Oxford.
"Jeanette told me she happened to notice in the Sunday Journal-Constitution that the Georgia State Florist Association was having a trade show in downtown Atlanta the following week, so she signed up for it and set out to learn as much as she could about the business," said Mrs. Mullis.
Fifteen years later, that same association presented her with its retailer of the year award. And in 1995, she was inducted into the American Academy of Floriculture, a high honor bestowed on only 10 floral industry notables each year by the Society of American Florists.
Mrs. Gardner was a believer in continuing education, said Sherry Moon of Atlanta, president of the Teleflora Network members of Georgia. "She took all kinds of instruction related to her business from universities like Auburn and University of Georgia and from floral trade associations. As time went on, she passed that knowledge on as a mentor to newcomers to the floral industry. "