Callie Elain Gardner, 89, a longtime resident of Gloucester, Virginia, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, in Newport News, Virginia, following a long illness.
Elain was born in Mobjack, Virginia, on March 26, 1937 to Charles Marion and Hilda Virginia Wroten.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Phillip Emerson Machen, Harold “Abie” Gardner, and Clyde Carlton. She also endured the heartbreaking loss of her middle son, Phillip Lee Machen, and her grandson, Nathaniel Machen. Elain was the last of the Wroten children, having been preceded in death by her brothers, Jesse and Charles Wroten, and her sisters, Virginia Majette and Frances King.
She is survived by her sons, Charles Machen (Debbie) of Gloucester, and Jesse Machen (Maureen) of Williamsburg, Virginia. To her grandchildren, she was simply “Nannie,” a role she treasured. She doted on William Machen (Laura), Amelia Elain Phillips (Scott), Kenneth Machen (“Val”–Valerie), Phillip Machen (Katie), and Kristina Machen, and delighted in her great-grandchild, Bennet Machen.
Elain was funny and loved to laugh, and when she laughed, she laughed loudly. Her unmistakable laughter was part of the soundtrack of family gatherings and is a sound those who loved her will never forget.
More than anything, Elain loved being surrounded by her family. Cooking and feeding people were among the many ways she showed her love. Anyone who came through her door could expect to be fed, and her family will remember countless meals prepared by her hands. Among those treasured dishes was her corn pudding, a family favorite that will forever taste like Nannie’s house.
Elain also loved gardening and took great pleasure in watching things grow. Even in her final years, when illness kept her from tending her flowers and eventually confined her to bed, she continued to find joy in the world outside. Bird feeders were kept outside her window, where she loved watching the birds come and go.
She worked for many years as a bookkeeper at the Base Exchange at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown and was an active member of Bellamy United Methodist Church. Her instinct to care for others extended beyond her own family. When her husband was a dialysis patient, she volunteered at the dialysis center. She also volunteered at the Gloucester Senior Center while she was still young, in her 70s and early 80s.
Elain leaves behind a family who will miss her and love her always. Her presence in their lives was a gift, and the memories they shared with her will be treasured for generations to come.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Whitcomb Lodge at Beaverdam Park, Gloucester, on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Bellamy United Methodist Church.