Natalie Anne Garland, of Aldie, VA, passed away Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at the age of 37. Natalie was born to parents Suzan and John Garland on March 31, 1981 in Safford, AZ. She grew up the middle daughter of three girls and spent her early childhood years in Arizona and New Mexico, where she rode horses, fished, collected rocks and learned to love animals and the outdoors. As a child, Natalie was very creative and became interested in the performing arts. She played the viola, sang in the church choir and acted in church and school plays. In 1989 her family moved to Virginia, where she attended Emmanuel Christian School and graduated from Osbourn High School in Manassas, VA in 1999. Following high school, she attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg, VA, graduating in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts, history major.


Natalie lived and worked in Northern Virginia her entire career. Following college, she started work with EG&G Technical Services as a homeland security support specialist. In this job, she traveled extensively throughout the country, helping develop and conduct homeland security exercises, seminars, and workshops with Federal, state, and local first-responders. She subsequently worked for URS and AECOM Corporations as a senior real property case coordinator, supporting the US Secret Service, IRS Criminal Investigations Division, and Department of Homeland Security.


Natalie had two great lifelong passions—music and animals. She loved music and was an accomplished singer and songwriter. This became a very important part of her life, as she sang and performed with a band for several years. She was developing and had nearly completed a studio album with her favorite music collaborator, just prior to her passing. Natalie dearly loved animals, especially her two dogs, Chloe and Shane. In addition to her dogs, she had great compassion on all animals, wild or domestic, and she dedicated numerous hours and weekends helping local animal shelters find foster homes for pets. Natalie enjoyed baking and could often be found experimenting with new cupcake recipes. Baking for her friends was a favorite pastime. Natalie also had a contagious sense of humor, and loved to make people laugh. She had a warm, soft heart and was deeply compassionate and concerned about people she loved. Any time a friend or relative experienced difficulties, she would come right away and help any way she could. She will be very deeply missed by her family, friends and all who knew her. Her parents, John and Suzan Garland; her sisters, Aimee Presti and Julia Garland; and her paternal grandmother, Violet Lewis, survive Natalie.


A Memorial Service will be held at Centreville United Methodist Church, in Centreville, Virginia on January 26, 2019, at 4:30 p.m., with a reception to follow at the church. The family is grateful for condolences, and would welcome flowers at: Centreville United Methodist Church, 6400 Old Centreville Road, Centreville, VA 20121. Please specify flower delivery for January 25 or 26. Also, if preferred - in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Natalie’s name to: The Benzodiazepine Information Coalition. Please see the following website for how to donate: http://benzoinfo.com/donate/. Cards may be sent to: Garland Family, 1901 Crag Burn Ln, Raleigh, NC 27604.