By james art 
Paul Carter Garland92, of Statesville, N.C., died Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Cadence Health in Raleigh, N.C.
He was born in Harlan County, Kentucky on May 24, 1932 to the late Rev. Charles Raleigh Garland Sr. and Pearl Finchum Garland. He was also preceded in death by his beloved wife, Virginia Brett Garland.
Paul graduated from South Bend Central High School. He then attended the University of Missouri in Columbia. He played the trumpet in the orchestra. He then transferred to Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. While a student at Emory University, he was on the wrestling team and enrolled in sports. He was also a member of the Sigma Nu chapter at Emory. He graduated with a business major. He also received a commission in the United States Marine Corps as a second lieutenant.
Paul’s first job was at Marine Corps Base Quantico. While at Quantico, he went with a friend to Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where he met Virginia Mae Brett. That meeting ended in a marriage of 65 years. Along the way, two sons, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren were born.
He was a member of Broad Street United Methodist Church where he served as treasurer. Paul loved tennis and enjoyed the marches of John Philip Souza. His greatest love was his family and he cherished the annual vacation they all spent in Hilton Head.
Those left to cherish his memory include two sons, David Brett Garland (Sherrill) of Stem, NC, and Charles Douglas “Doug” Garland (Mizzi), of Raleigh, NC, grandsons, David Brett Garland Jr. Robert Carter Garland, Paul Thomas Garland, Jenna Callahan and William Ray Webley Jr.; and great-grandchildren, Opal Rose Garland-Wikins, Miller Anne Callahan and Hallie Keirnan Callahan, with two more on the way.
A funeral service will be held at Broad Street UMC in Statesville, NC on Saturday, November 2nd at 1:00 PM with a graveside service immediately following.
The family will receive friends for visitation at the Broad Street UMC sanctuary from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. prior to the service at 1 p.m.
Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family.