Freddie Demiscous Gardner, Jr.

STAGES OF LIFE

It was a cold rainy day on February 24, 1949 when a beautiful, brown baby boy arrived in the East Texas town of Palestine. They nicknamed him Kimb before he was born. It was an affectation between his parents Freddie Demiscous Gardner and Irene Williams. His father, however, was eager to pen his name on his first-born son and he became Freddie Demiscous Gardner, Jr. His Mother, Irene, was matriculating at Huston Tillotson College to become a teacher. Negro teachers had to conduct their teacher training in Arkansas because the Jim Crow laws in Texas did not permit them to train here. Little Freddie spent the first few years of his life in the protective abode of his Grandparents, Menion “Bud” and Mattie Williams. He flourished in the rural country setting of Crossroads, Texas. He marveled at the strength of his grandfather performing the hard work of building fences, he delighted in eating the tasty soul food of his loving grandmother, and he enjoyed hearing his grandfather sing in a Barbershop Quartet. He said, “Bud Williams had a demanding presence and a wonderful base voice, and he was a master in using it to manipulate the prevailing prejudice in his segregated, bigoted society." A great and lasting devotion developed for his grandparents.  He cried when he had to leave their home.

Life with his parents was a comfortable, professional middle-class environment in which he thrived in Corsicana, Texas. He attended the David Crockett and Abraham Lincoln Elementary Schools, and he graduated from G.W. Jackson High School, which heralded a State Championship. Unfortunately, it became prey to a historic burning down by KKK members who wanted to prevent integration. It was a devastating loss for his community. Freddie was the neighborhood paperboy and a lifeguard. He was an entrepreneur who sold holiday greeting cards and pictures from his photography sideline. He also made crystal radios with his friend Melvin who said, “I remember that Freddie was smart.” He studied karate and was an accomplished track and field star until he suffered an injury. He was a member of the First Independent Baptist Church. As an inquisitive child and an avid reader, he would often question the men in Sunday School on the validity of their teachings. Finally, they made him treasurer, who unfortunately, could not attend class because he had to balance the books.

He left Corsicana to attend The University of Texas at Austin to receive his B.A. in Journalism. He co-founded The Afro-American Players, Inc. The Company was established to promote Black history and culture and fight against racism and hate through the vehicle of theatre.  It was recognized as the Civil Rights Organization for the University, as the first African American Theatre on campus, and the Austin community. The Company toured and was acclaimed across the U.S. for its many programs. He was co-recipient for awards with HEW-Office of Education, The National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Texas Commission for the Arts, the Austin Cultural Arts Department, the Austin Independent School District, the Meadows Foundation, the Community Block Grant and many others. He pledged the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Epsilon Iota Chapter at the University and was an active member.

Freddie married GloDean Baker, his lifelong partner and love, in 1974. To that union Freddie Demiscous Gardner, III (Tre') was born. Fred and Glo worked together, played together and praised God together for 55 years. They started BaGar Productions, the Children’s Mask Theatre, a touring company for schools, libraries, churches and all organizations that provide services for children. It has a multi-cultural format of workshops and ‘Plays with Good Morals and Great Stories.’  He was a beloved actor who performed before an estimated 2,000,000 children and adults over the span of 20 years.

In addition to his performing talent, Freddie became an award-winning Visual Artist. He created a unique art format, called CUTZ, which is an eight-step process, where he cuts images from wood and airbrushes them with vivid acrylic paint.  He has won Best of Show at several Art Shows. 

Freddie studied and was devoted to living in the Divine Will of God. It was a gift from God and he rendered daily prayers that God’s Will would be done on earth as it is in heaven. His daily routine also included picking up his grandchildren from school, which he loved. They were the joy of his life.

Freddie performed his last act on the 14th Day in the first month of the year, January 14, 2025. He bade farewell on this stage of life to be with God, to sing with the Angels, his Ancestors and Saints. He is survived by his wife, Glo Dean; his sons, Kevin D. Gardner, Kenneth D. Gardner, Freddie D. Gardner III (Khirah); grandsons, Langston Jeremiah Gardner, Lincoln Nehemiah Gardner, Legend Josiah Gardner; his nephews David D. Gardner, DeShawn ArCraig Gardner; nieces, Brendae’ Walter (Ricky), Gabrielle Gray, his Aunt Earlene Williams; sister-in-laws Patricia Baker-Gray and Madeline Baker, brother-in-law, Kenneth Baker and a host of cousins and great nieces. 

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