Obituary of John Garrett

Funeral services for John T. Garrett of Grayson, LA will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday March 30, 2011 from the chapel of Riser Funeral Home in Columbia with Bro. Robert McIlwain officiating. John was born on April 26, 1946 in Wisner, LA and he passed from this life on Sunday, March 27, 2011 at the age of 64. John grew up in St. Joseph, Louisiana where he graduated from Joseph Moore Davidson High School in 1965. He attended college at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA where he received a B.S. degree in Biology in 1969 and a M.S. degree in Botany in 1971. An educator for 33 years, John taught Science at East Ascension Academy in Gonzales, LA and in Caldwell Parish High School in Columbia, LA for 28 years. John taught Botany classes at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA and he taught Biology Continuing Education at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA. John was a member of the Columbia Church of Christ. Involved in his community, John serves as President of the Caldwell Association of Educators, President of Caldwell Parish Band Boosters, and was elected to the Clarks Town Council for two terms. John also served the Caldwell Parish School Board in both capacities as Vice-President and also as President of the Board. John was preceded in death by his father, Milton Garrett, of St. Joseph, LA and his sister, Evelyn Garrett Otwell of Natchez, MS. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Linda Sutterfield Garrett of Grayson, LA; two daughters, Cherie Garrett Phillips and husband, Brian Phillips of Haynesville, LA, and Candace Garrett Dunn and husband, Glenn Dunn of Grayson, LA; his two grandsons, Foster Cole Phillips and Jack Garrett Phillips of Haynesville, LA; his mother, Mary Spears Garrett of St. Joseph, LA; his brother, Milton Garrett and his wife Kim Jones Garrett of Natchez, Miss.; his sister, Melissa Hardwick of St. Joseph, LA; his nephew, Brian Hardwick of St. Joseph, LA; three nieces, Renee Otwell of Ponchatula, LA, Brandy Garrett Pritchard of Vidalia, LA and Tammy Garrett Lord of Natchez, Miss. John is survived by a host of other relatives, friends, and acquaintances. Pallbearers will be Alton Oser, Gerry McIlwain, Robbie Dunn, Cliff Peterson, Stanley Fuqua, and Chester Stapleton. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Caldwell Parish School Board and Mr. John Sartin, Caldwell Parish Superintendent. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5-8 PM at Riser Funeral Home in Columbia. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to University of Texas Medical Center, M.D. Anderson Hospital, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77030 You may send online condolences to the Garrett family at www.riserfuneralhomes.com.