Garland N. Sessoms Sr.

GARLAND NOVAL SESSOMS, was born on September 25, 1933 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the only son of Alice Virginia Sessoms and Garland Blango. During his youth, Garland lived and went to school in South Baltimore. He attended St. Veronica’s Catholic Church and Parochial School; where he was proud to say that he served as an Alter Boy. During his adolescence, he attended Frederick Douglass High School. Garland was a funny and witty person who learned that he could make people laugh at an early age. As a quick witted and fun loving youngster growing up in South Baltimore, he picked up the nickname of “Duck,” he said it was because he walked like a duck. His antics made his friends laugh and it made him happy. He kept his sense of humor throughout his life. During his visit to the hospital while being treated in the Emergency Room, his quick wit kept the hospital staff both amused and on target with their medical treatment. As a young man, Garland worked at different factories in South Baltimore until he decided to join the United States Army where he received an honorable discharge. When he returned home, he immediately followed in his stepfather’s footsteps and began working for B&O Railroad as a Brakeman. In 1958, at the age of twenty-four, he met and married Margaret Marie Evans and from this union of twenty-five years a son was born, Garland Jr. After leaving the B&O Railroad, Garland worked at several different jobs before finally beginning employment with Westinghouse where he retired after twenty-seven years. He made many friends during his tenure at Westinghouse and he maintained those friends through out his life. Garland’s proudest accomplishments were his days as an Alter Boy, becoming a Boy Scout, fathering his son Garland Jr., and maintaining many friendships, some for more than seventy years. He leaves to cherish his memory: a son, Garland Sessoms, Jr.; grandsons, Brandon White and Joshua Carr-Sessoms; his cousin, Paul Sessoms; a devoted friend, Geraldine Eure; his caregiver, Annie Askins; close friends, Calvin and Tina Tyler, Ray Washington, Larry Benner and Harold Mason; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Garland N. Sessoms Sr.

September 25, 1933 - July 12, 2011