Rev. James Thomas “Jim” Garrett
Reverend James Thomas “Jim” Garrett, 92, of Texarkana, Texas, passed away Sunday, March 11, 2018, at Cornerstone Retirement Community.
Jim was born on February 14, 1926, in Orange, Texas, to John Talmadge Garrett and Georgia Gaines Garrett; the fourth of eight children.
After serving in the Navy during World War II, he married Frances Carpenter in 1946. Jim graduated from Southern Methodist University, earning a Bachelor of Education in 1949 and a Bachelor of Divinity in 1952 from Perkins School of Theology. In the same year, he was ordained as an Elder in the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. He went on to receive his Doctorate of Divinity from Texas Wesleyan College in 1978.
Jim served as a minister in the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church until his retirement in 1991. Churches he served include Almeda UMC, Temple UMC and Westminster UMC, all of Houston; First UMC of Atlanta; Williams Memorial UMC, of Texarkana; and Marvin UMC, of Tyler. He also served as Superintendent of the Longview District for four years.
After his retirement and the death of his wife, Frances, Jim moved to Texarkana to be near his daughter, Jackie, and her family. He married Mary Brannen in 1992, and they split their time between Texarkana and College Station until her death in 2012.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Georgia Garrett; his wives, Frances Carpenter Garrett and Mary Brannen Garrett; his daughter, Jackie Garrett Morriss; brothers, Don Garrett, Kenneth Garrett, Billy Garrett, Lindy Garrett, Gerald “Red” Garrett, and Maurice Garrett; and sister, Frances Watson.
He is survived by his granddaughter, Whitney Morriss Ormond and her husband Ross of San Antonio; son-in-law, Don Morriss and his wife Patsy of Texarkana; and greatgrandson, Hughes Ormond.
A graveside service with military honors will be held Thursday, March 15, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Texarkana. A memorial service and celebration of his life will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Williams Memorial United Methodist Church, Texarkana. Arrangements are under the direction of Hanner Funeral Service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The Jackie Garrett Morriss Endowed Scholarship Fund at SMU or Williams Memorial United Methodist Church. Guest registry is available at www.hannerfuneralservice.com