Eugenia Stone Garland, 82, of Fitzgerald, Georgia died Wednesday, July 13, 2011, at her home, with her children, her sister, and her caregiver, Avis Collins, at her side.
The interment of remains of both Gene and her late husband Sam Garland will be held at 7:30 A.M. Friday, July 15, in the Evergreen Cemetery. Memorial services for Gene will follow later at 11:00 A.M. at the First Baptist Church of Fitzgerald with the Rev. Dr. Mike Ruffin officiating. The family extends the invitation to all to join them for both services. Friends may call between 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. on Friday at the Garland home, 155 Camelot Court.
Mrs. Garland was born October 22, 1928 in Fitzgerald, the older of the two children of Justin Paul and Gladys Harden Stone. She was graduated from Fitzgerald High School in 1945 and attended Duke University where she met and fell in love with Samuel Albert Garland. Gene and Sam were married on September 5, 1947 at a beautiful early morning ceremony in the garden of her parents’ home on South Lee Street. After Sam’s graduation from Duke University, they returned to Fitzgerald in 1948 where Sam was in business for many years with his father-in-law.
From 1948 until 1982 Mrs. Garland was an active member of First Baptist Church. She sang in the choir and taught Sunday school classes for a number of years. She remained a lifelong student of the Bible. She was an avid bridge player and was the owner and operator of The Little Shop, selling gifts and antiques. Her particular area of expertise was English stoneware and Chinese Export porcelains, though she loved beautiful things of all types.
After retiring with Sam to Ponte Vedra Beach, FL in 1982, Gene became an active member of the Sawgrass community where she continued to play bridge, tennis, and golf. She organized, taught, and directed a weekly ukulele and singing group of 20 to 30 people. The group often entertained local nursing home residents. Gene and Sam traveled extensively and had a particular love for Portugal. The Garlands returned to live in Fitzgerald in 2004. Gene was a 50-year member of the Nathaniel Abney Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution and a member for many years of The Review Club.
On May 24, 2011, after nearly 64 years of marriage, Gene’s beloved Sam died. Gene survived him by seven weeks.
Gene and Sam’s children are: Catherine Garland (Steve Bravy) of Montgomery Village, Maryland; Eugenia Garland “Deni” Dorminy of Durango, Colorado; Eliza Garland (Albert) Nesmith of Arlington, VA and Brunswick, GA; and Samuel Albert Garland, III of Fitzgerald. Additionally, she is survived by her grandchildren: William James Dorminy, Jr. of Savannah, Anna Dorminy of Kona, Hawaii, and Samuel Garland Bravy of Montgomery Village, Maryland; her great-grandchildren: Lexie Dorminy and Trace Dorminy, both of Savannah; her sister: Nancy Stone Hough (Jack Wilcox) of Fitzgerald, and Christine Morrelli of Fitzgerald, close personal and family friend.
The family suggests those desiring to send memorials in lieu of flowers may send them to Blue-Gray Community Hospice, P.O. Box 1447, Fitzgerald, GA 31750, the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Humane Society, 106 Lions Park Road, Fitzgerald, GA 31750, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.