By Charlene Holmes
It has been said that real men love Jesus, and that statement is true. Mr. Joel David Gardner is a classic example of a man who would naturally be a success according to the world’s standards simply because of his handsome boyish good looks and wiry 6’4” frame. The fact that he is gainfully employed, 25 years old, articulate, and intelligent are like the cherry on top of a banana split.
The real clincher in Mr. Gardner’s life, however, is his love of and for God. He humbly admitted, “I am fortunate. I have been blessed by God and I could not have done it alone.”
He added, “I believe if you have faith and supplement that faith with actions and prayer, you can move mountains.”
Mr. Gardner has been a Mortgage Loan Officer at Renasant Bank for over a year. “My job is to write the best mortgage product for people so they can buy their dream home,” he explained.
“I like my job because I like helping people purchase homes. Some of my buyers are the first person to own a home in their family and to be able to be a conduit for that gives me a great deal of satisfaction,” he smiled.
Mr. Gardner said in most instances, if you can afford to rent, you can afford to buy a house. He emphasized, “There are many programs out there to help one qualify for mortgage and down payment assistance, as well as monthly payment aid.”
He advised potential home buyers to have “established credit. The lack of credit would be your biggest obstacle. I would strongly suggest someone see where they are credit wise” if thinking about home ownership, he added.
Mr. Gardner said he has always liked working with numbers, so a career in banking was an obvious choice. He mentioned that his dad is a CPA by trade and has his own Accounting firm. “Growing up, I spent summers at my dad’s office doing basic accounting,” he shared.
Although he has a bent for working with numbers, Mr. Gardner said he also likes interacting with people. “Renasant is a great place to work because I like taking obstacles and finding solutions for them while serving people. God willing, I plan to be at Renasant for a long time,” he added.
Mr. Gardner said one of his favorite quotes is ‘ This too, shall pass.’ He explained, “There have been times when I’ve been stressed out and my Mom’s response would always be, ‘this too shall pass.’ She reminded me that any obstacle is not permanent and, in time, will go away.”
The Hampton University graduate said attending school in Virginia was “one of the best experiences in my life because it was good to be in an atmosphere where everyone was trying to succeed and excel.”
He said his college years were an extension of what was instilled in him during his Birmingham, Alabama upbringing and at Hillview Elementary School. “One of my fondest memories was being a part of the Junior Achievement Program. My Dad taught the class and we looked forward to it.”
Mr. Gardner continued, “I believe to whom much is given, much is required. I participate in community service with nonprofits and mentor at- risk Inglenook Elementary School students once a month with my Fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha.” He said talking about life and decision making to the Inglenook youth is a way of “giving back.” He added that what his Fraternity does is reminiscent of the Junior Achievement Program at his elementary school and “I am proud to be a part of it.”
“A simple man who appreciates the small things in life” is how Mr. Gardner describes himself. He said he savors spending time with “his better half”, Angelica. Since I have known her, she’s always been by my side and been a blessing in my life.”
