BARBARA FREEDMAN GARRETT

FREEDMAN GARRETT, Barbara Carolyn, age 74, of Texarkana, Arkansas passed away peacefully in her sleep during the wee morning hours on Saturday, June 19, 2021, after several months of intense hospitalization, painful surgeries and complications following heart surgery. Alone with her daughter in her home and in her own bed for the first time in months, she literally went to sleep and woke up in heaven.

Barbara was a 1964 graduate of Stamps High School where she excelled in every subject, especially English and graduated as the Valedictorian of her class. Her classmates recalled that she never had a hair out of place and always looked like she had stepped off the pages of a fashion magazine. Although accepted into Rice University, poverty restricted her educational choices. As a working student, she studied at Southern Arkansas University until financial constraints forced her to drop out. She later received her bachelors and masters degrees plus 60 hours towards her doctorate in education from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma where her husband was a Professor of sociology and criminal justice.

She was a 30 year veteran of the public schools and served as Principal at multiple schools in Muskogee, Oklahoma and Texarkana, Arkansas. However, her all time favorite staff and fellow teachers were the excellent, committed teachers and professionals at College Hill Elementary where she served for 17 years. During that time, she regularly held parenting classes in her office for free, counseled children and parents alike and held a before school voluntary Bible study. Under her leadership, College Hill Elementary was chosen to host Presidential candidate and then Governor of Texas, George W. Bush. All major media and the U.S. Secret Service descended on the elementary school for this event. She considered it her career highlight to introduce the future President of the United States on national television.

During her professional career, she had many commendations and honors. First, she was the youngest Principal in the state of Oklahoma at that time serving only three years as a first grade teacher before becoming a Principal. During the Oklahoma years, Barbara worked closely with the Cherokee Nation on behalf of many families and helped one special elementary aged Indian child get off hard street drugs and out of an abusive home to be reunited with his Cherokee family. The Elementary school in Oklahoma where she was Principal was a Blue Ribbon School of Distinction bestowed by the U.S. Department of Education. In Texarkana, Arkansas she piloted year round school for the state of Arkansas at College Hill Elementary. Finally, Barbara piloted one of the first magnet schools for Texarkana Arkansas School District, the Fairview Aerospace & Environmental Magnet School. She was delighted to take the first group of Texarkana, Arkansas TASD fourth grade students to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama on the grounds of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Many of these children had never even been across the line to Texarkana, Texas, much less to attend a world famous educational camp out of state. When the District ran short of money at the last minute, Barbara and her family personally financed the way for several students so that every fourth grade student could attend the camp.

In the 1970s, Barbara and her beloved daughter Amy were charter members of a Baptist mission in Tahlequah, Oklahoma under Pastor Herbert Watts, where they along with a handful of other committed Christians literally dug the ground for the church, planted all shrubs and flowers and worked alongside the construction crew to build the church. For many, many years, Barbara taught Sunday School, Wednesday night ladies Bible study and Vacation Bible Study. In more recent years, Barbara was a longtime faithful member of Northern Hills Baptist Church (formerly County Avenue Baptist) where she served in the RU Recovery addiction ministry and assisted her husband, Frank Garrett, in jail ministry and nursing home ministry. She was a longtime member of the Kiwanis Club of Texarkana whose motto is to serve the children of the world, which she held dear. She was a graduate of Leadership Texarkana and participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure for over twenty (20) years.

After her retirement in 2008, Barbara had a very full second career as her daughter’s faithful, trustworthy and diligent paralegal. During her lengthy hospital stay, despite her painful surgeries and therapies at the Arkansas Heart Hospital, Barbara actually consulted on cases, edited legal briefs and gave her opinion on cases that she was assisting on. She was indispensable to her daughter’s law practice.

Barbara’s best and most cherished times were attending church at Northern Hills Baptist Church and listening to her favorite preachers Pastor Roger Copeland, Pastor Jim Harris, Pastor Jeff Schreve, David Jeremiah, Charles Stanley and Adrian Rogers. It was a highlight of her Christian life to hear Adrian Rogers preach live.

Barbara loved the Bible. She was an extremely well read and intelligent woman and lifelong Bible student. She talked her daughter, Amy into doing a three year intensive Bible study through the Faith Bible Institute. She was ecstatic to learn prophecy and deep Bible truths. It meant everything to share that with her only child. Her favorite Bible verse was Romans 8:28 “And we know all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to HIS purpose.” She quoted it regularly and loved to tell others about salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Barbara was passionate about helping abused children and families. She herself was a survivor of child abuse and was witness to horrific domestic violence as a child. She dedicated her entire adult life to helping children and families. She was also equally committed to helping the unborn have the right to life. To put it succinctly, she was a champion for children.

Barbara was the baby of her family of five siblings. She was in awe of all her older siblings and considered them “celebrities” and her protectors. She was particularly close to her older sister Daisy who was a second mother to her. She idolized her only big brother Jesse who she was closest to in age.

Barbara cherished her only child, Amy and was content to do whatever they planned or Amy needed for her case work including lavish trips to NYC, Hawaii, Europe, Florida, California, Branson and all places in between. She would often ask Amy “where are we going next? I want to anticipate and look forward to the next trip.” There was always a next trip, whether it was to Dallas, El Dorado or the exotic California coast. Just a few years ago, they traveled to Florida on their own dime to visit children and make sure the court plan was in the children’s best interest. She and Amy were literally joined at the hip in life and love. Best friends. Partners in crime, love and business. Never did a mother and daughter love each other so deeply.

She is preceded in death by husbands Alex S. Freedman and Franklin Garrett; her sisters Ruth Elmore, Ester Baker and husband C.P. Baker, Mary Beene Smith; brother Jesse Paul Beene; nephews Raymond Elmore, Curtis Harrison and Great Niece Kimberly Britt.

She is survived by her daughter, Amy Freedman of Texarkana, Texas and fiancee Clint Hanna; her sister, Daisy Dudley and brother in law Robert of Lake Erling, Arkansas, Sister in law Brenda Beene of Stamps, Arkansas, nephews Steve Warren and wife Marilyn of Black Springs, Arkansas, Gerry Britt and wife Megan of Benton, Arkansas, Michael Britt and wife Connie of Benton, Arkansas, David Baker, Angie Baker of Stamps, Arkansas, Donna Newton, husband Kenny of Texarkana, Arkansas; Debbie Wright, husband Gerald of Texarkana, Arkansas, Lori Robinson, husband Eddie of Stamps, Arkansas, Cheryl McMahen and husband Chad of Stamps, Arkansas, and great nephews Ryan Harrison and wife Ivy; Lance Harrison and wife Brittany, Christopher Warren, Bryan Bolt and wife Laura; John Newton and wife Cassie; Cole Newton; Hayden Britt; Garrett Britt; Phillip Britt; Collin Paul Baker; Jon David Baker; Kelby Robinson and wife Michelle; Brady Robinson and wife Kim; and Dusty Robinson and wife Hayley; Great nieces Amanda Warren Bailey and husband Brian, Jamie Bolt Wilkie and husband Bill; Keri Jester; Hannah Powell and husband James; Christen Johnson and husband Casey and Laura Britt and a number of Great Great Nieces and Nephews and her