Paul Franklin Garrison

Paul enlisted in the U.S. Marines after the 10th grade of high school. He served his country in Puerto Rico as an MP. He was honorably discharged three years later.

Following his time in the service, he returned to Black Mountain to finish high school. It was there he met the love of his life, Joyce Silvers.

Thanks to the GI bill, Paul attended Berea College in Kentucky, while Joyce went to Wake Forest.

Three years later they married and transferred to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. After receiving his undergraduate degree, Paul headed north to Michigan State for his Masters.

His professional career began in 1957 when he worked for the Kroger Food Company in Atlanta, GA. For the next 11 years, Paul was promoted and eventually ended up in Birmingham, AL.

In 1971, he took the chance on a small grocery store chain as Vice President. That company was Bruno's. During his tenure at Bruno's, they acquired Piggly Wiggly in southern Georgia, based in Vidalia. He was made president of that division.

Paul returned to Birmingham and in 1991 he became president and chief operations officer of Bruno's Inc. He retired in 1996.

Paul was a long-time member of Green Valley Baptist Church in Hoover, AL.

When he wasn't working, Paul escaped with Joyce to one of his favorite places, Black Mountain, where they had their second home. He loved golfing, vegetable gardening, and after retirement his weekly meetings at Waffle House with his friends from Bruno's. But his greatest joy was spending time with his sweetheart, Joyce, his children, and grandchildren.

Paul was preceded in death by his father, William Garfield Garrison; his mother, Ellen Mitchell Burgin; brothers, Barrett, Horace, Fred, Robert, Donald, and Johnny; and sisters, Eva Mae, Gladys, Aszalee, and Marie.

Paul is survived by his wife, Joyce Silvers Garrison; sons, Phillip Garrison (Jackie) of Black Mountain, NC, and Jim Garrison (Kaye) of Vestavia Hills, AL; grandchildren, Miranda Garrison of New York, NY, Paul Garrison of Baton Rouge, LA, and Bradley Garrison (Alexandra) of Charleston, SC; step-grandchildren, Blake Campbell (Dena) of Marietta, GA, and Scott Campbell of Hoover, AL; great-grandchild, Millie Campbell; and a host of nieces and nephews who loved and adored their uncle.

Visitation will be from 12 noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, AL, immediately followed by the funeral service at Ridout's Southern Heritage Chapel, Pelham. Burial will be at Southern Heritage Cemetery, Pelham.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Salvation Army, www.salvationarmyusa.org.