Lorraine Higgins Garner

Lorraine Higgins Garner, 83, of Newport, died at the Crystal Coast Hospice House on Wednesday, February 21, 2018.

Her funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 24, 2018 at Munden Funeral Home in Morehead City, officiated by Reverend Mitchel Parker. A burial will be held at the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Newport following the service.

She was born in the Newport home of her parents, Leo and Annie Buck Higgins, on March 23, 1934.  Her greatest pleasure in life was serving her Lord and Savior by being a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.

She married Ernest Francis Garner on January 1, 1954 and spent the majority of their 64 years of marriage as a preacher’s wife, a role for which she was exceptionally suited. Following Francis’ call to the ministry, they served numerous OFWB churches in eastern North Carolina. She held a variety of public jobs over the years but was most content to be busy caring for her family, sewing and crocheting, and volunteering her time at Carteret Health Care’s gift shop. She also served on the Board of Directors at Camp Vandemere for a period of time.

She is survived by her husband, Rev. Francis Garner of Newport; a son, Steve Garner and wife, Melissa, of Newport; three daughters, Karen Clayton and husband, Gregory, of Belhaven, Pam Benson and husband, Ricky, of Newport, and Jan Garner of Gastonia.  She was richly blessed with 10 grandchildren, Brent Haskett, Kerrie Clayton, Jenny Howard, Kayla Woolard, Samantha Rouse, Alex Dixon, Felicia Hill, Kasey Clayton, Amber Dixon, and Brooklyn Dixon; and 11 great-grandchildren, Leo Haskett, Paige Rice, Emory and Elyn Howard, Paylin Woolard, Tripp and Benny Stroud, Jayden Rouse, Brodie Moody, and James and Cameron Hill. She was cherished by her brother, Alton Higgins of Hertford, NC and sisters, Betty Garner of Dillsburg, PA, and Bettie Hargett of New Bern, NC, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and many loving friends.

Family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 24 at Munden Funeral Home in Morehead City.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Garner Endowment Fund at the University of Mount Olive at 634 Henderson St., Mount Olive, NC 28365 or Camp Vandemere at 1371 Streets Ferry Rd., Vanceboro, NC 28586.

Online condolences may be made at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements are by Munden Funeral Home and Crematory, Morehead City, NC.