Mr. Leslie Garland Justice

Garland Justice, age 87 years old, passed away on March 10, 2011 at Coosa Valley Medical Center after a short illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, Johnny Clay and Mary Sims Justice, and a brother and sister-in-law, Ted and Dell Justice.

Mr. Justice is survived by his devoted wife of 69 years, Olean Watson Justice, daughters Linda Justice Simpson and Freida Hillard (Larry); four grandchildren, Allison Teague Bell (Ken), Todd Teague (Dana), Lesley Hillard Leiserson (Eric), Lindsey Hillard Little (Grant); and eight great-grandchildren, Josh and Jessica Bell, Taylor, Clay, and Wesly Teague, Riley and Justice Little, and Jacob Leiserson.

He moved to Childersburg in 1956 from St. Clair County. In 1957 he began working for the U.S. Postal Service as a rural mail carrier, a job he continued until his retirement in 1983. Also in 1957 he began coaching Babe Ruth League Baseball where he coached the Red Sox for 20 years as well as many All Star teams. As a city councilman for 10 years, he served as chairman of the Park and Recreation Board. In 1977, the Babe Ruth baseball field in Childersburg was named Garland Justice Baseball Field in his honor. In February 2000, he was inducted into the Childersburg Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame.

After his retirement he worked part-time for several years as an instructor at Central Alabama Community College in Childersburg in the carpenter shop. He was also an active member of the Termite Woodworking Group. As a member of the Childersburg Historical Preservation Commission, his skills at woodworking were put to use in the renovation of the Rainwater House Museum.

He was a faithful member of Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church near Sterrett where he served as a deacon for many years.

Visitation for Mr. Justice will be held Sunday, May 13, 2011 from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Curtis and Son Funeral Home Childersburg Chapel. Funeral Service will be held on Monday, March 14, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of the funeral home. Burial will follow in Greenhill Cemetery, Childersburg.

Pallbearers will be Terry Jinks, Rick Justice, Mack Kilgore, Mack Lee, Bill Morgan, Royce Warren, and Gene Watson. Honorary pallbearers will be Eddie Slaten, B.J. Meeks, Lee Carpenter, all Babe Ruth ball players coached by him, and the Termites.

Condolences may be left at www.curtisandsonfunerals.com

Curtis and Son Funeral Home Childersburg Chapel directing.