Garland Lee Forrester, age 86, passed away on January 14, 2016 after a lengthy illness. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Peggy Haislip Forrester. Garland grew up on a farm, the youngest of nine children of the late Ivis Lee and Cora Revere Forrester.
Garland graduated from Lively High School as the valedictorian of his class in 1947. After high school, he married his high school sweetheart, Peggy and established Forrester’s Lunch in Lively. A few years later, he built Forrester’s Equipment and Service Center in Lively. In 1960, he became a deputy with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and in 1964 was appointed sheriff. Garland remained in that position until 1979. While in office, he was instrumental in the building of the current jail. In 1980, Garland returned to operate Forrester’s Equipment until his retirement in 1992.
Garland was a life member of Lebanon Baptist Church Alfonso, Virginia were he has served as Chairman of the Board of Deacons, Sunday school teacher, and member of the church choir. He was a charter member of the Upper Lancaster Fire Department and member of the Upper Lancaster Ruritan Club for many years. While in office, Garland was a member of the Virginia Sheriff’s Association and later, a member of the Former Sheriff’s Association. He was an avid quail hunter and member of the Lancaster County Field Trial Association. Garland was a baseball enthusiast and in his younger years, he played with the Chesapeake League.
He is survived by his son, Cameron L. and wife, Shirley of Tazewell, Virginia and two daughters, Paula F. and husband, Wilfred of Lively, Virginia, and Cora F. and husband, Larry of Monroe, North Carolina; grandsons, Clifton L. Forrester and wife Teresa of Tazewell, Virginia; Jay P. Forrester and wife, Amanda, of Roanoke, Virginia; Paul H. Forrester of Santa Fe, New Mexico, a granddaughter, Jamie F. Mason and husband, Joe of Chesterfield, Virginia; five great-grandchildren, Tyler Lee Forrester, Lauren Ashton Forrester, Kevin Cronise, Charles Lane Mason, and Avery Carrington Mason; and his sister, Margaret F. Ransone and husband, Ralph, of Kilmarnock; a caring and faithful niece, Lorraine P. Dixon, and husband, Charles of Lancaster and several other nieces and nephews.
During his illness, Garland was attended to by four dedicated caregivers, LaTonya Brown, Akila (KiKi) Gaskins, Regina Norris, and LaVern Taylor.
Graveside services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 16, 2016 at Lebanon Baptist Church, Alfonso, Virginia. Family will receive friends 6 to 8 pm on Friday, January 15, 2016 at Currie Funeral Home, Kilmarnock, Virginia. Memorial contributions may be made to Riverside Tappahannock Hospice, 289 Hospital Road, Tappahannock, Virginia 22560 or Lebanon Baptist Church, 1712 Lara Road, Lancaster, Virginia 22503.