SEND FLOWERS
Obituary
Garnet Mae Prentice went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, September 14, 2025. She was born on August 4, 1951, in Bluefield, Virginia, to Margie (Dunford) Gilbert and Barnes Gilbert of Pocahontas, Virginia.
At the young age of 9, Garnet was diagnosed with a visual impairment that would eventually lead to blindness. Despite this challenge, she lived a life full of purpose, strength, and unwavering faith.
In 1966, she met and married Larry Laurell, with whom she had two sons, Jimmy and Benjamin. Though they later divorced, Garnet and Larry remained good friends.
Determined and resilient, Garnet embarked on a 33-year career with the Business Enterprise Program for the Michigan Commission for the Blind. Over the years, she operated several snack bars and vending services, including at the bulk mail post office in Allen Park, the Michigan State Plaza, the Greyhound Bus Station in Detroit, the Federal Prison visiting center in Milan, and a coffee shop in the Detroit Arsenal in Warren.
While working in Detroit, Garnet met Edward Prentice, and they were married on October 11, 1993, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Together, they built a life in Taylor, Michigan, where they have lived since 2001. They also shared a home in Pocahontas, Virginia, and spent their winters as snowbirds in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they made many cherished friendships.
Garnet was the last of eight siblings, preceded in death by her brothers Donald, Barnes, John, and Roy, and her sisters Sevillah, Betty, and Connie.
She is survived by her beloved husband Edward Prentice; her two stepchildren, Shawn and Annette; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and friends who will miss her dearly.
A devoted follower of Christ, Garnet was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ in Sumpter, Michigan. She found great joy in worshiping the Lord and singing His praises.
Garnet’s life was a testimony of perseverance, faith, and love. She touched countless lives and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
