Johnnie T Garrett

Johnnie Terrell Garrett, age 88, of The Cypress of Charlotte, died Sunday, November 4, 2012, at Carolinas Medical Center. She was born April 22, 1924 in Canon, Georgia, daughter of the late Dr. John Hudson Terrell, Jr. and Aurora Beatrice Whitworth Terrell.

Johnnie moved to Charlotte with her family in 1930 and graduated from Central High School in Charlotte, later attending Winthrop College and Queens College. She met her future husband, William Calvin Garrett, Jr., also a resident of Charlotte, while she was in high school, and he was a cadet at Clemson College. They married August 5, 1944. She worked at Fort Jackson, where Bill was stationed during World War II. After the war, they made their home in Charlotte, where they raised their family. Johnnie worked many years in administrative positions with Mecklenburg County Mental Health and County Personnel, retiring in 1989.

She was raised in First Baptist Church, Charlotte, and has been a member of St. John’s Baptist Church for over 65 years.

Throughout her life, she never met a stranger, and had a gift for bringing people together. Her fun-loving spirit and honest approach to living attracted friends from all walks of life. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were her greatest joy and pride in life.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, William Calvin Garrett, Jr. Survivors include her sister-in-law, Gladys Garrett Covington; three children, Linda Garrett Wallace and her husband Jim, Nancy Garrett Chambers and her husband Rolly, all of Charlotte, William Calvin Garrett, III and his wife Theresa of Needham, MA; nine grandchildren, Jimmy Wallace and wife Jacquelyn, Betsy Wallace Browder and husband Matt, John Wallace and wife Claire, Will Chambers and wife Jessica, Ben, Robert, and Bailey Chambers, Madison and Spencer Garrett; and three great-grandchildren, Mack and Janie Chambers, and Ella Browder. Also surviving are one niece and six nephews.

Family and friends will gather at 1:00 pm Friday, November 9th for a graveside service at Sharon Memorial Park. A memorial service will follow at 2:00 pm Friday at St. John’s Baptist Church with The Reverend Dr. Dennis W. Foust officiating. A celebration of Johnnie’s life will be held at The Cypress of Charlotte, 3442 Cypress Club Drive, at 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 10th.

The family requests that memorials be made to St. John’s Baptist Church, 300 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC 28204.