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LaSone D. Garland-Bryan, 62, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at the Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital after an extended illness, surrounded by her loving family.
Born on March 29, 1960, in Albany, N.Y., LaSone was the eldest daughter of Benjamin Garland and the late Jeanette Garland, proprietors of Garland Brothers Funeral Home.
LaSone graduated from Mercy High School and Russell Sage College where she also secured post graduate credits in the fields of psychology and social work. She dedicated much of her professional life serving inner city communities in the Capital Region through employment in not-for-profit and government entities. She was the Director of the Albany Girls Club; Prevention Educator at the Albany County Crime Victims Sexual Assault Center; Community Health Worker Coordinator for the Albany County Health Department; Adoption Social Worker for the NYS Minority Adoption Coalition; Youth Intern Coordinator for the Albany County Department of Social Services; EAP Coordinator of the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce EAP program; and Instructor at the Strafford Business School.
LaSone also volunteered a generous amount of her free time promoting and advancing community, grassroot based efforts to enrich the lives of inhabitants in inner city neighborhoods. She and her sister Benita, together with two other women in 2004, founded the Women of Color Cancer Support Group (WCCSG) which has successfully assisted and advised Black and Brown women having a cancer diagnosis, to navigate and manage health care providers, treatments, family depression, hospice and any other negative consequences in their quality of life triggered by that terrible disease. The WCCSG was formally recognized by the former Mayor of Albany, Gerald Jennings, by the Albany Branch of the NAACP, by the Macedonia Baptist Church and the American Cancer Society. Her work in this group led to her being honored with a local Jefferson Award in 2012 and designation as a “Woman of Distinction” by the Black Women’s Association of Albany in 2011.
LaSone distinguished herself as a prominent community leader. LaSone was many things to many people: a friend, advisor, civil rights leader, historian, mentor, educator and humanitarian but above all, she was a testament to the power of God through the work she did and the battles she fought. Her service reverberated through others. LaSone loved her family and community. In 2017, she was honored for these outstanding qualities and her remarkable character by the Albany County Democratic Committee, Fifth Ward as a Woman of Distinction.
Additionally, LaSone served as an officer in the Albany Branch of the NAACP as a Chair of its Health Committee, Board Member and Secretary. She also previously held many positions with (ESFWC) serving as the past Regional President from 2011-2015 Recording Secretary, Board Chair, and Member of the Election Committee. At the time of her death, LaSone was the Albany Regional President for the Empire State Federation of Women Clubs Inc. and the President of the M.C. Lawton Civic & Cultural Club, Inc.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Bernard H. Bryan Sr.; her father Benjamin Garland; her siblings, Rodney Garland (Sheila), Gregory Garland (Inez), Lillian Garland, Phillippa Garland-Wilcox, and James Garland, all of Albany, New York; a host of nieces and nephews; one stepson; five aunts; one uncle; five godchildren and numerous cousins.
She was predeceased by her mother, Jeanette Garland, her sister, Benita E. Garland, a special nephew, Gregory Garland Jr. and brother-in-law, Kenneth Wilcox.
LaSone was loved by many, respected by all and will be dearly missed.
Memorial contributions may be made in LaSone’s honor to:
Women of Color Cancer Support Group
c/o M.C. Lawton Civic & Cultural Club, Inc.
14 Ten Broeck Street, Albany, New York 12210
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