Alma Burton Carson Garrette passed away on December 8, 2011 at Fairmont Crossing Health Center in Amherst, Virginia at the age of 94 after a lengthy illness. She was born on Feb. 22, 1917 in Amherst Co., Va. and was the wife of the late Lyle North Garrette, Sr. She was the daughter of the late Alice Lafayette Thompson and Aurelius Burton Carson. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She is survived by her four children, Lyle North Garrette, Jr. and wife, Faye, of Amherst; Robert Monroe Garrette and wife, Cary Ann, of Amherst, Va.; Judith Carsonette Garrette Hamilton and husband, William, of Roanoke; and Alma Jane Garrette Schweitzer and husband, Lyle, of Lynchburg.

In addition to her children, she is survived by 10 grandchildren, Steven Lynor Garrette; Sandra Denise Garrette Burks and husband, Benjamin; Thomas Lyle Garrette and wife, Kate; Robert Michael Garrette and wife, Maria; Dawn Marie Garrette Bradley and husband, Yong; Chelsey Grey and William Peter Hamilton; Jared Lyle Schweitzer and wife, Carrie; Mark Carson Schweitzer and wife, Kristin and Rebecca Lynn Schweitzer Knoster and husband, Jason. Also, 13 great-grandchildren, Justin Taylor, Whitney Michelle and Ross Hunter Garrette; Jennifer Lynn, William Garret, and Allison Catherine Burks; Christopher Michael R. Garrette; Caleb Yong and Josiah Chol Bradley; Malachi Lyle Schweitzer; and Jonathan Mark, Luke Carson, and Matthias Owen Schweitzer. Also, 3 step great-grandchildren, Christian, Veronica and David Cardoso and one step-great, great grandson, Christian Xavier Cardoso.

She is survived by two sisters and one brother, Judith (Billie) Steele of Lynchburg, Va.; Frances Roberta Evans of Concord, Va. and Clarence Edward Carson and wife, Cornelia, of Spout Spring, Va. She was proceeded in death by three sisters, Oneeda Thompson Martin, Elsie Mae Womack and Ossie Virginia Anderson and two brothers, A. Burton Carson, Jr. and Theodore Richard Carson.

She is also survived by three sisters-in-law, Alice Elizabeth Garrette Moore of Ashland, Va.; Nell Hope Garrette of Fredericksburg, Va. and Marion Barfield Garrette of Macon, Ga. and one brother-in-law, W.W. "Dick" Womack of Lynchburg, Va. and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank her special caregivers, Maxine Smith, Brenda Bradley, Francine Jones and Dale Bradley, who cared for her for ten years in her home in Concord, Va. They would also like to thank the nurses and other staff at Fairmont for their loving and professional care over the last two years.

Her family will always remember her unfaltering love and dedication to her family and the wonderful Christian example she was for her children as well as her grandchildren and their families. During her life she was active in many church and community activities. She served as a Sunday School teacher and president of the UMW at Bethlehem United Methodist Church, also as a 4-H leader and held various offices in the Sherwill Home Demonstration Club.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday December 10, 2011 at Bethlehem United Methodist Church officiated by Dr. Ben Burks and the Rev. Dan Dibble. Burial will follow in Concord Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 PM on Friday night December 9, 2011 at Robinson Funeral Home, Appomattox. In lieu of flowers please consider Bethlehem United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 138, Concord, VA 24538.
Robinson Funeral Home and Cremation Service is serving the family and an online condolence may be sent by visiting www.robinsonfuneral.com.