Connie Leola Christian Garner was born on February 28, 1948, to her parents, Allen Christian and Blanche Clarke.

Connie was raised in the east end "Church Hill" section of Richmond, Va. She attended school at George Mason Elementary School, East End Junior High School and Armstrong High School.

Connie was baptized in her youth at Fourth Baptist Church in Richmond.

Connie moved to New York City and met and married Shelton Lee Garner. She held various jobs in New York, and her last employment was as a mail handler for the United States Postal Service, where she began in New York City and transferred to the Richmond, Va., facility, and eventually retired from the Postal Service in Virginia.

In retirement Connie devoted her time to her life-long passion for daytime soap operas, and enjoyed working crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, and building an expansive library of her favorite genres of romance and mystery/detective novels.

Connie was a fiercely loving person, no-nonsense, very direct in her speaking, and extremely generous. She loved her children and all of her family and friends.

Connie went home to be with the Lord on September 14, 2025.

Connie was preceded in death by her parents, Allen and Blanche; siblings Henry Ike Coleman, Clarence Coleman, Leonard Christian, Lillian Christian Solomon, and Blanche Christian Gattis; nephews, Henry Coleman Jr., and Romaniel Coleman; nieces, Jo-Ann Solomon and Gladys Coleman, and a host of other nieces and nephews.

Connie is survived by her children, Anthony Christian, Cheryl Garner, and Shelton Garner Jr.; daughter-in-law, Sharmaine Christian; grandchildren, Anthony Christian Jr., Sharine Patrick, and Joshua Christian; beloved nieces, Ruth Butler and Medallion Gattis; nephews, Joe Solomon, Keith Coleman and Clarence Coleman Jr.; devoted grand-nieces, Lillian Denise Christian and Ashley Solomon; grand-nephews, Shawn Butler and Joe Solomon Jr., and a host of other great-grandchildren, grand-nephews and grand-nieces, devoted friend, Lydia Hart; and many other friends and co-workers at the Postal Service.

Connie always let you know that she loved you more in deed than in words, and you always knew that you had her love, honor and respect.

Funeral services can be viewed online by selecting the "View Funeral Webcast" link below on Friday, September 26, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.

View Funeral Webcast