Born in Bluefield, West Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Albert Burgess and Myrtle Ford Burgess. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years, Herman Price Garbee; two brothers, Curtis Loton Burgess and Elmer "Buddy" Burgess; and her nephew, Anthony Burgess.
Mary is survived by her son, Albert Thomas Garbee; three grandsons, Conner Lee Garbee, Caleb Thomas Garbee (Karlyn), and Cayden Allen Garbee; three nieces, Marlene Wysocki (Edward), Darlene Salvia (Vince), and Karen Bingley (Michael); and three nephews, Scott Burgess (Brenda), Elmer "Butch" Burgess and Richard Burgess (Jan).
Although born in West Virginia, Mary moved to Lynchburg at an early age and made it her lifelong home. She was an exceptionally bright and determined young woman, attending the Virginia Baptist Hospital School of Nursing and becoming a registered nurse at just 16 years of age. Her passion for learning continued throughout her life as she returned to school and earned a Master of Education degree from Lynchburg College.
Mary dedicated many years to education, serving as the Head of the Foreign Language Laboratory at Lynchburg College, where she also taught English to international students. She found great joy in helping others learn and succeed, leaving a lasting impact on countless students.
Alongside her professional career, Mary faithfully worked beside her husband on their family farm. She enjoyed gardening and took pride in nurturing both flowers and vegetables. She was also an outstanding cook and baker, well known among family and friends for creating beautiful multi-layered wedding cakes that became a treasured part of many special celebrations.
Mary was a member of the Lyn-Dan Heights Ruritan Club and a faithful member of Marsh Memorial United Methodist Church. Her greatest joy, however, was her family. She was a devoted mother, a proud grandmother, and a loving presence whose kindness, wisdom, and generosity will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
A graveside service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 31, 2026, at Fort Hill Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at Whitten Timberlake Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Autism Association, P.O. Box 1703, New York, NY 10156, or to Marsh Memorial United Methodist Church, 20348 Leesville Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502.
