Doretha Garrett

On april 14, 1922, a child was born to Sam Snoddy, Sr and Anna Elizabeth Pippens Snoddy in Clinton, Alabama. That child was named Doretha, in Greek it means “Gift of God”. Doretha was the sixth child of eleven children. She was preceded in death by her parents, Sam and Elizabeth Snoddy, Six brothers: Jimmy, Johnny, Willie, Raymond, Amos and Sam, Jr Snoddy, two sisters: Angie Goodall and Willie Mae Jones.

Doretha accepted Christ as her personal Savior at an early age. When she moved to Paterson, She served the Lord first at Solid Rock Baptist Church and later received training at Valley Chapel Assemble of God in Clifton, New Jersey. As she became more dependent, she moved to Greenville, SC to live with her son, JK Snoddy. Because of her desire to serve God, she served in the Donaldson Church of God while in Greenville, SC.

As you can see, Doretha was always looking for a way to serve her God. She single-handedly developed a system to reach children in a low-income area by establishing a bible class in her basement. Because she couldn’t get transportation, you would see her car over-stuffed with kids going to church. Some of those very kids are now ministers because Dorthea loved and cared for their souls.

This is a portion of a tribute given by her son, JK Snoddy. You can view it entirely on his Facebook page. “My mom was the most wonderful, generous, kind and precious saint of God that I know. As a single parent with a lack of higher education, she struggled through life to make provisions for the two of us. She loved me and never considered giving me away. When things were really rough, I can still hear her singing this song in the background, “Be not dismayed whatever betide, God will take care of you. Beneath his wings of love abide, God will take care of you.” Let me tell you God did take care of us.

She leaves to cherish her memories: one loving and devoted son, JK (Linda) Snoddy of Greenville, SC, two sisters: Severe Strode of Boligee, AL and Eloise Gibson of Eutaw, AL, one sister-in-law, Lydia Mae Snoddy of Henderson, NV and a number of nephews, nieces, family members and friends who will dearly miss her.