Charlene Garris

Charlene Fortenberry Garris, 85, of Cornelius, NC passed away on March 8, 2021. She was born in Danville, VA on July 31, 1935 to the late David Lee Fortenberry and Nancy Maebelle Brannon Fortenberry.

Along with her parents, Charlene is preceded in death by her brother, David; sister, Linda Lee; daughter, Donna Garris Pitts; Son, David; and husband, Ervin Garris.

She is survived by son, Michael(Dean) Garris, daughter Nancy Foley; son-in-law, Joe Pitts; grandchildren April (Brad) Riggs, Joshua (Shalana) Pitts, Kimberly (Jason) Doyle, Joe Arrowood, and Chelsea Foley; 10 great grandchildren; sister, Priscilla Sherrill; sister, Polly Shelter; sister, Joy Lineberger; sister, Gail Lineberger; and brother, Charles Ray Fortenberry.

Charlene was a devoted Christian woman who loved her family. As a Sunday school teacher, she believed in discipleship. If she was not serving with missions teams to India and Israel, Charlene would support other missionaries.

A visitation will be held at Cornelius Church of God at 12:00pm on March 11, 2021 followed by a memorial service at 2:00pm.

Interment will be held at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church where she will be laid to rest beside her husband Ervin Garris.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Charlotte at https://www.hpccr.org/giving .

Proverb 31: 10-31

The Woman Who Fears the Lord

¹⁰ An excellent wife who can find?
    She is far more precious than jewels.
¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her,
    and he will have no lack of gain.
¹² She does him good, and not harm,
    all the days of her life.
¹³ She seeks wool and flax,
    and works with willing hands.
¹⁴ She is like the ships of the merchant;
    she brings her food from afar.
¹⁵ She rises while it is yet night
    and provides food for her household
    and portions for her maidens.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
    with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She dresses herself^[b] with strength
    and makes her arms strong.
¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
    Her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ She puts her hands to the distaff,
    and her hands hold the spindle.
²⁰ She opens her hand to the poor
    and reaches out her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household,
    for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

    her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is known in the gates
    when he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them;
    she delivers sashes to the merchant.
²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing,
    and she laughs at the time to come.
²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷ She looks well to the ways of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women have done excellently,
    but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands,
    and let her works praise her in the gates.