Viola Sally Garren Maphis

Viola Sally Garren Maphis, 91, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2026, in Central Florida. She was born January 26, 1935, in Hendersonville, NC, to Minnie Goldsmith Garren and John Flemuel Garren.

She graduated from Edneyville High School in 1954. Later in the 1950s, she moved to Fort Lauderdale, where she raised her family and built a dedicated 40+ year career with the Bell System, retiring in 1997. In retirement, she split her time joyfully between Florida and North Carolina, embracing life with warmth and grace. For many years, Viola was an active and devoted member of the Fort Lauderdale Garden Club, where she shared her love of flowers, gardening, and community beautification. Her green thumb and generous spirit helped nurture both gardens and friendships.

Viola was known for her kindness, radiant smile, and, in later years, her signature Gator ball cap, a proud symbol of her family’s University of Florida ties. She adored her pets, especially her beloved dog Zoey, danced spontaneously, and cherished her three granddaughters and many nieces and nephews. With a gift for making everyone feel seen, she brightened days with genuine, persistent compliments. Even as dementia affected her later years, her wit, humor, and spirit endured. Her one-liners and love remained present to the very end.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert “Bob” Maphis. She is survived by her son, Rob Maphis; granddaughters Brianna, Alexa, and Ava; sisters Dorothy Stinett, Wanda Poe, Glenda Cliff (Larry), and Debra Smith; and brother Dennis Garren (Darlene).

A service and burial will be held at Forest Lawn Funeral Home in Hendersonville, North Carolina, at 2:00 PM on April 4, 2026.