Garnet Nathaniel Smart

Garnet Nathaniel Smart, 80, of 511 Ash Street, passed away Monday afternoon, November 17, 2014, at his home.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Mr. Smart was born August 3, 1934 in Patrick County, Virginia, to the late Nathaniel R. Smart and Gladys Cruise Smart. Garnet was a graduate of Walter Williams High School in Burlington. He was a US Army veteran and began his law enforcement career while in the Army and continued in his civilian life with Leaksville Police Department in 1963 and worked his way up through the ranks. With a total of 30 years in police work, he retired from the Eden Police Department as Chief of Police in August 1989. Garnet was civically active in his community serving as a member of the Fraternal Order of Police (Eden Lodge #5) and North Carolina Association of Police Chiefs.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia Duke Smart of the home; daughter, Jennie Fitts Fulton and husband, Tom, of Eden; two grandchildren, Nathaniel A. Fitts of Cascade, VA and Ann Fitts of Eden, NC; brother, Garland E. Smart and wife, Irma, of Martinsville, VA; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son-in-law and father of his grandchildren, Harry Jones Fitts of Cascade, VA; three brothers, Raymond Smart of Martinsville, VA, Kermit Smart of Collinsville, VA, and Larry Smart of Ridgeway, VA; and a sister, Deloyce Lovelace of Eden.

The family will receive friends Wednesday afternoon, 3 - 6 PM, at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Jennie and Tom Fulton, 220 E. Stadium Drive in Eden.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Fraternal Order of Police, Eden Lodge #5, 308-B East Stadium Drive, Eden, NC 27288 or to Hospice of Rockingham County, PO Box 281, Wentworth, NC 27375.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.fairfuneralhome.com