Right Worshipful Joseph P. Gardner was raised in Metropolitan Lodge No. 11 in Richmond, Virginia. He was an honorary member of Glen Allen No. 11, Hellenic No. 249, and Meridian No. 284. He affiliated with Richmond Randolph No. 19 and Virginia Research No. 1777.
He served as Worshipful Master in three Lodges and was District Deputy Grand Master of 15A in 1977. He laid down his working tools in 2014, a sixty-year member.