Herbert "Herb" Garland

Herb was born 1929 in Grassy Creek (Spruce Pine), in the little mountain hamlet of Altapass, near the Blue Ridge Parkway, in North Carolina (NC). Being born during the Great Depression in this rural humble community, his character was forged through many hardships to treasure relationships over possessions. He suffered the loss of his young mother (Margie) from cancer at 24. His father, Calvin (Cal), with the help of family, modeled sacrifice and perseverance to his very young family - Iris, Herb, and Evelyn.

The mountains were always Herb’s first love and often called his heart home. He treasured the simple life there - where one could see the beauty of God’s creation, smell the fresh air walking down a country road (or maybe even the aroma of Granny’s biscuits welcoming him home), or experience the love of his father, step-mother, sisters, and other family.

Herb proudly served in the United States Navy; he was honorably discharged in 1954. After his Naval service, Herb was able to take advantage of the G.I. Bill and attended Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, NC, where he met a lovely young lady (Elsie Whitehurst); they fell in love and married in 1956. Herb continued his education at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC and went on to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Herb and Elise were blessed with their first two sons (Gary and Bruce) in NC. In 1960, Herb, Elsie, and their growing family moved. Welcoming three more children (Joyce, Wayne, and Carl), they moved to Fairfax to rear their family.

Herb was a faithful provider and diligently worked at the United States Department of Defense (DoD) as a civilian. His sharp mind and analytic abilities were a perfect fit for his career choice as a Certified Internal Auditor and CPA. Herb took pleasure in and was recognized for maximizing Federal efficiencies over his expansive 30 year exceptional career.

Herb’s most prized life values were his Faith in God and his family. He spent many years volunteering in Prison Ministry with Elsie, as well as his beloved Gideons International. His love of God’s Word spurred his desire to see other’s come to Faith. He enjoyed offering a smile and a Bible to anyone that would accept the gift.

After retirement, Herb was heroic in his dedication to serve in the home to care for Elsie during her gradual decline in health. Herb treasured 60 years of marriage prior to her passing in 2016. Their children are very thankful for Herb and Elsie’s modeling sacrificial love of God and family.

Amazingly, with God’s grace and Herb’s fighting spirit, he survived COVID in May 2020 with in-home care. The family, along with Wayne and Jenese as primary care-givers, were blessed with four extra years that we treasured.

Herb is survived by his five Children (Gary, Bruce, Joyce, Wayne, Carl), Grandchildren (David, Blair, Bob, Jessie, Jon, Christen, Kat, Hope), Great Grandchildren (Everett, Emma, Collins, Isla) Daughters-In-Law (Nancy, Jenese), extended family of nieces and nephews, in-laws, very close family friends (Julie & Carlos), and many, many other friends who loved him dearly.

The Garland Family would like to thank everyone for their loving support and tender care of Herb over these last few years of his life. Thank you, too, for the enduring and deep friendships that have lasted decades and brought such joy to Herb. Thank you for your prayers and kind thoughts during this time.

We have faith that he is singing in God's presence with joy surrounded by his family and the saints who have gone before us. John 11:25-26 -- "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?" ~

A Celebration of Life for Herb will be held at Jerusalem Baptist Church, 5424 Ox Road, Fairfax Station, Virginia at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, 5/29/24. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be livestreamed at 11:00; you may access the livestream via this link here (https://www.youtube.com/live/-WDCn9hw-Uo?si=F0LBrCQneauCIJ1K). The video may also be potentially archived on the Church’s website.

A very short interment service will be held on Friday, 5/31, at 10:00 AM, at Fairfax Memorial Park, 9900 Braddock Road, at the grave site (behind the Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home back parking lot, near the Garden of the Good Shepherd).

In lieu of flowers, we welcome you to donate in Herb’s memory to Jerusalem Baptist Church (here) or Gideons International (here). Thank you and be blessed!

Direct Links to Livestream and Donation websites:

Jerusalem Baptist Church - livestream to 11:00 AM, Wednesday, 5/29/24 service -

https://www.youtube.com/live/-WDCn9hw-Uo?si=F0LBrCQneauCIJ1K

Jerusalem Baptist Church - Donation Page - https://onrealm.org/JerusalemBaptis/-/form/give/now

Gideons International - Donation Page - https://www.gideons.org/donate