Ava's Father, Jonas Gardner
“I remember my father so well. He was tall and lean with soft black hair. A cleft in his chin and the green eyes I inherited. But there was a sparkle in those eyes and a smile on his lips. He…
Continue Reading →About our Blog Authors
Lynell Seabold is the Director of the Ava Gardner Museum. She has been with the museum since July 2016 and has a background in business and accounting. She is a transplant from San Diego, CA and now calls Johnston County, NC home.
Beth Nevarez is the collections manager at the Ava Gardner Museum. She has a master’s degree in public history and nearly 10 years’ experience working in museums. A Wilson, North Carolina native, Beth attended UNC Chapel Hill and UNC Wilmington for her studies, focusing on American history and public history. She now operates Beth Nevarez Historical Consulting and specializes in caring for historical collections and sharing history through collections outreach initiatives.
Lora Stocker began volunteering as a social media specialist with the Ava Gardner Museum in 2019 and then joined the Museum’s Board of Directors. She is a professional artist, designer, and illustrator operating her own business Lora Stocker Designs in Johnston County, North Carolina. She received degrees in Studio Art and Visual Communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her diverse career in the arts has included commissions from national and international brands as well as those from North Carolina-based businesses and non-profits. When not creating, she likes to spend time traveling and exploring with her husband, visiting the country’s National Parks and sites related to classic film history.
“I remember my father so well. He was tall and lean with soft black hair. A cleft in his chin and the green eyes I inherited. But there was a sparkle in those eyes and a smile on his lips. He…
Continue Reading →While some might think of Ava Gardner solely in terms of her career as an actress, music was always a big part of her life. As an avid fan, particularly of jazz, she amassed a large personal record…
Continue Reading →Did you know that you can tour the Ava Gardner Museum from the comfort of your own home? You may have recently seen a series of videos showcasing some highlights from our current exhibits on our…
Continue Reading →Looking for something fun and relaxing to do at home? Have little Ava fans at home? Check out our Ava Gardner Museum Coloring and Activity Book. The complete book is available for purchase in our gift…
Continue Reading →The Bible has long been used as source material for both the big and small screens. From the earliest silent films to the 21 st century box office success of The Passion of the Christ , the stories of…
Continue Reading →Ava Gardner was born in 1922, just two years after women officially gained the right to vote. While she never had to fight for women’s suffrage, Ava made use of this hard won right throughout her life…
Continue Reading →In honor of Black History Month, we are celebrating some of Ava Gardner’s African-American contemporaries and friends from the studio era. We are also sharing some of Ava’s personal experiences and…
Continue Reading →Ava met the man who would become her third husband while she was still married to her first. Years later she would meet him again and begin a love story that would ultimately last the rest of her…
Continue Reading →Ava Gardner was a Southern woman through and through. In her autobiography she talks about food & family and brags about her mother's cooking. “The kitchen…always looked as though a hurricane had…
Continue Reading →The holiday season is upon us with Thanksgiving next week and only 34 days till Christmas! The Ava Gardner Museum Gift Shop has great gifts for the classic film buffs and Ava fans in your life. Buying…
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