Gregory Van Garland, Sr.

Gregory Van Garland, Sr. was born in Port St. Joe, FL (Gulf County) on March 18, 1961 to Howard Garland, Jr., and the late Rosa Lee Bryant Garland.

Gregory received his formal education from the Gulf County School System. He graduated from Port St. Joe Jr.-Sr. High School in May 1979. He served in the United States Army and was employed at Arizona Chemical Company, Panama City, Florida.

Gregory accepted Christ into his life at an early age. He was raised in the First Born Church of the Living God. He later joined the House of Praise Church under the leadership of the late Bishop Rosa Lee Garland. After her death, he joined Destiny Worship Center Ministries, Inc., Panama City, Florida.

Gregory was a loving father, grandfather and friend. He enjoyed going fishing and riding his motorcycle with his motorcycle Club, the “Ruff Ryders” of Panama  City, Florida.

Gregory was preceded in death by his mother, grandparents, the late Howard Sr., and Abeneser Garland and the late Boswell and Refair Bryant.

He departed this life on Sunday, February 26, 2017 at Bay Medical Center-Sacred Heart, Panama City, Florida.

Gregory leaves to cherish his memories to a loving father, Howard Garland, Jr.; children: Michelle Fields (Bobby) of Wewahitchka, Florida, Gregory Garland, Jr. and Garrett Garland of Port St. Joe, Florida, DeVante Garland, Tamara Garland, Keneshia  Lee (Craig Hazzard) and Thomas Lee of Panama City, Florida; brothers: Mitchal Garland (Marjorie) of Killeen, Texas, Anthony Garland (Carolyn) of Tallahassee, Florida, Donnell Garland (Tammi) of Tallahassee, Florida, Drexel Garland (Shabral) of San Angelo, Texas, Billy Charles Martin (Verine) of Crestview, Florida, James Fenn and Tommy Garland both of Port St. Joe, Florida; aunts and uncles: Waymon Bryant of Port St. Joe, Florida, John Bryant (Noy) of Panama City, Florida, Clyde Garland (May) of Orlando, Florida, Kenny Garland (Penny) of Atlanta, Georgia and Darin Garland of Port St. Joe, Florida, Patricia Leslie (Charles) of Miami, Florida, Annette Torres (Carlos) of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Debra Garland of Phoenix, Arizona; eleven grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends; special sister: Veronica Barrington (Arthur) of Tallahassee, Florida; two god sisters: Carolyn Clayton (Sam) of Port St. Joe, Florida and Tamela Walker (Joe) of Miami, Florida; one god brother, Michael Beard of Gainesville, Florida.

Visitation will be 9:00 AM to funeral service time of 11:00 AM (EST), Saturday, March 4, 2017 at The Body of Jesus Christ Church, 106 Harbor Street, Port St. Joe, Florida.

Interment will follow in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Port St. Joe, FL under the directions of Christian Memorial Chapel of Graceville, Florida.

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