John Cecil “Diggy” Garland

John Cecil “Diggy” Garland, 86 passed away peacefully on Friday, November 1, 2024, in Toccoa, Georgia.

He was the son of the late Cecil and Fannie Garland. He was born on December 26, 1937 in Toccoa, Georgia. He graduated from Toccoa High School in 1957 where he was an outstanding athlete receiving many honors including All State in Georgia football. Diggy spent 47 years working at the Toccoa Casket Company where he rose from a grinder in metal assembly to Plant Manager and several years working at American Heritage where he retired. He was an influential presence and role model to many young men in the community having coached baseball and football for many years. He loved Georgia football, a good western and was a skilled craftsman. He was a member of St. Matthias Episcopal Church. 

Diggy Garland was a dearly loved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, cousin, brother and friend. He valued hard work and a commitment to excellence in all pursuits. He poured his heart and soul into his family and was a devoted family man. He maintained a strong presence through his integrity, honesty, and compassion to those who were fortunate enough to know him. Heaven received a great man on Friday, and he will be dearly missed by so many on this earth.  We are confident he was met by hundreds of his furry friends at the Rainbow Bridge.

Diggy is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Angeleyn “Angie” Way Garland of the home; his children, Jonda Garland Wisotzke, Brett Garland (Ginny), Jenna Garland Clark (Gary); his grandchildren, Danielle Hombroek (Nathan), Taylor Clark (Kaitlyn), Austin Clark, Jessica Garland (Donnie), Jordan Garland, Jaycee Garland, Tania Wisotzke (Paul), Kimberly Wisotzke (David), and RJ Parker; his great-grandchildren, Amelia, Connor, Eleanor, Lincoln, Lainey, Jax, Millani, Nicholas, Paisley, Miles and Samuel; his brothers and sisters; Ruth Williams (Joe), Harold Garland (Rita), Carol Harrison (Reeves), Roger Garland (Cathy); his brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Linda Williams (Sandy), Chuck Way and many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Fannie Miller Garland; his brothers and sisters, Betty Garland Looney, Barbara Garland Hornick, James Garland; In-laws, Troy and Vicie Way; brothers-in-law and sister-in law, Marian Way, Randy Way, Herbert Looney, Howard Hornick, Reeves Harrison; numerous nieces and nephews. 

Funeral services will be Wednesday, November 6, 2024, 2 p.m. at St. Matthias Episcopal Church with The Reverend Scott Harding and The Reverend Jerrell Beatty officiating.  The body will lie in state at the church from 1 p.m. until the service time.  The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers, Taylor Clark, Austin Clark, Nathan Hombroek, Gregg Garland, Andy Williams, Elwin Northcutt, Eddie Elrod and Buster Smith. Honorary pallbearers will be Lincoln Bowers, Connor Hombroek, Jax Cash and Nicholas Thomas.

The family will receive friends at the Acree-Davis Funeral Home on Tuesday, 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.acree-davisfh.com.

Flowers are optional.  Memorials may be made in his memory to St. Matthias Episcopal Church, 995 E. Tugalo Street, Toccoa, Georgia 30577, to a charity of one’s choice or to the Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter, P.O. Box 2182, Toccoa, Georgia 30577.

Interment will follow in the Stephens Memorial Gardens with the Acree-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory in charge of the arrangements for John Cecil “Diggy” Garland.