Over 70 years ago, as men were called to duty in World War II, women went to work. That’s when young Gertrude Gardner started helping people find homes as the Great Depression ended. This soon turned into a passion that led her to become the Crescent City’s first lady to build her own real estate company. In 1943, Gertrude opened her first office Uptown with “The Golden Rule” as the founding principle. The company has grown and prospered ever since.
To share in her vision of making clients’ home dreams come true, Gertrude attracted many talented people to join her company, including former debutantes and also Gertrude’s family, from one generation to the next. The first generation was Mary Matheny, Rich, Roger Gardner and Warren Gardner; the second generation was Gertrude’s only son, Glenn M. Gardner and his wife Dottie; the third generation being Gail, Glenn, Jr. and his wife Sharon Gardner; and now Crystal Gertrude and "Chip" Glenn Gardner represent the fourth generation of family leadership!
In Gertrude’s later years, she was affectionately referred to as “The Grande Dame of Real Estate.” Through the years, many fine competing companies merged with GERTRUDE GARDNER REALTORS including Martha Ann Samuel REALTORS and Prudential Louisiana Properties, helping GARDNER REALTORS to remain in the top 1% of all real estate companies worldwide.
Today, The Executive Team - including Sharon & Glenn Gardner, Barbara Blades, & Norris Songe - continue to uphold Gertrude Gardner’s four-generation tradition of providing the best quality real estate services, while holding true to our founding principles.