Garland Leon ALSTON

ALSTON, Garland Leon
Garland Leon Alston, 63, of Hartford, beloved husband of Gayle Elaine Blanche (Rozie) Green, passed away on Tuesday, (August 16, 2011), at Hartford Hospital. Born in New York City, NY on October 17, 1947, son of the late Lee Alston and Ruby Lee (Williams) Alston, he had spent his entire life in New York City before moving to Hartford one year ago. After graduating from high school, Garland enlisted in the U.S. Army and served during the Vietnam War. After his honorable discharge in 1970, Garland opened a holistic spa called "Aquarius" in the Harlem section of New York City. He later followed passion for baking and opened the "Granny and Me" Bakery also in Harlem. Garland was a true connoisseur of all types of food. He regularly experimented with different recipes and tried new ingredients to create truly unique dishes and baked goods. Over the years, Garland passed his excitement for baking and cooking and his zest for food onto his family and friends. After selling his bakery, Garland took a position at the New York Institute for Special Education, where he worked in the library with learning disabled children. He decided to continue his education and went on to receive a Bachelor's degree in education from Lehman College in Bronx, NY and then a Masters Degree in Political Science. He later taught at the School for Arts and Sciences in Manhattan and retired in 2009. In his spare time, Garland enjoyed gardening around his home, singing, bowling, going to horse races, playing chess, and watching sports, especially the New York Knicks and the New York Yankees. Besides his wife Gayle, he leaves a brother, Willie T. Moore, a sister, Carrinne Johnson-Dixon and her husband Calvin Dixon of NY, NY; his wife's daughters, Elizabeth "Betse" Green and her husband William Cernansky of Portland, OR and Nicole Green and her husband Sorin Hilgen of Sudbury, MA; four grandchildren, Jason, Justin, Jan, and Grace; two nephews, Garland Lopez and Theron Hailstock, two nieces, Angelique Moore and Jahvita Rastafari; and a great nephew, Devon-Larae Hailstock as well as other beloved Family and Friends.
A service of remembrances will be held on Saturday, August 20, 3 p.m., in the Chapel of the Carmon Windsor Funeral Home, 807 Bloomfield Ave., Windsor. Burial will be private. His family will receive friends prior to the service on Saturday, August 20, 2-3 p.m., at the funeral home. In memory of Garland's love for animals, especially cats, the family has requested that memorial donations be made to the Connecticut Humane Society, 701 Russell Rd., Newington, CT 06111. For online condolences please visit, www.carmonfuneralhome.com.