Age: 91
Address: Brush Creek Community
Date of Death: January 28, 2011
Arrangements: Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home

Details: A native of Yancey County she was a daughter of the late Dewey and Pearl Hall Thomas.  She was the wife of Howard Garland who died in 2003.  She was preceded in death by a sister Madge Hopson.  A retired employee of Burnsville Hosiery Mill with 53 years of service, Gladys early employment was as Rosie the Riveter in the ship yards in Wilmington, Delaware during the WWII effort.  She was a member of West Burnsville Baptist Church.
     Surviving are a son:  Jerry Garland and wife Patti, of Green Mountain; a Daughter:  Sandy Smith and husband Dee of Asheville; 4 grandchildren:  Bart Garland (Delores), Paige Carpenter(Ty), Lana Melton (Mark) and Summer Smith (Clark Duncan); 5 great grandchildren:  Maddison, Emmaline, Sam, Meredith and Josh; 2 sisters:  June Robinson of Green Mountain and Maxine Turbyfill of Burnsville; 3 brothers:  Gene Thomas of Old Fort, Dean Thomas of Taylors, SC and Marvin Thomas of Green Mountain; several nieces and nephews also survive.
     Funeral Services will be held at 2 PM Monday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Rev. Charlie Carroway will officiate.  Burial will be in the Double Island Baptist Church Cemetery.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
     Memorials may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 264, Burnsville, NC 28714.