Reverend Garris

SMOAKS- Reverend C. Grady Garris, 78, of 304 Garris Hill Loop, Smoaks, entered into eternal rest Friday, June 27, 2008 at Roper Hospital.



Funeral services will be held 2 oclock, Monday, June 30, 2008 at The Brice W. Herndon and Sons Funeral Home, Walterboro Chapel. Interment with Masonic Rites will follow in Smoaks Baptist Church Cemetery.



Reverend Garris was born December 25, 1929 in Smoaks and was a son of the late Isaac Sauls Garris and Rachel Hiers Garris. He received a Masters in Divinity from New Orleans Theological Seminary. Reverend Garris was a devout Christian man, who served his Lord faithfully. He was the pastor of numerous churches in Georgia and South Carolina, some of which include: Bedon Baptist Church in Walterboro, Riverbend Baptist Church in Charleston, Sand Ridge Baptist Church in Ridgeville, Calvary Baptist Church in Neeses and Pine Pleasant Baptist Church in Saluda. Reverend Garris served as the Campus Life Pastor of the Boys Farm in Newberry. This ministry truly touched his heart and he devoted much of his time to the spiritual growth of these children. He was a member of Smoaks Baptist Church and Smoaks Masonic Lodge.



Reverend Garris was a loving husband and devoted father and grandfather. As a true sports fan, his favorite teams were the Clemson Tigers and the Atlanta Braves. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting. Reverend Garris had a true love for people and always greeted everyone with an easy smile, always had time to listen and never met a stranger.



Surviving are: his wife of 55 years, Sylvia Sweatman Garris of Smoaks; his children, Diana Grossman and her husband Jim of West Columbia, Charles Chuck Garris of York, Gail Crosby and her husband Steve of Mount Pleasant and Nancy Alexander and her husband Bill of Smoaks; brother, Wayne Garris and his wife Linda of Smoaks; sister, Dorothy Lucas and her husband Joe of Columbus, Georgia; grandchildren, Curtis Fulmer and his wife Muffy, David Garris, Erica Crosby and Hanna Crosby; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Bobbie Dillard and a brother, Eugene Garris.



Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to: The Boys Farm, Inc, Post Office Box 713, Newberry, South Carolina 29108; or to Smoaks Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 482 Lodge Highway, Smoaks, South Carolina 29481.



For those that wish, memorial messages and thoughts may be sent to the family at www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.



Family and friends may call Sunday evening from 5 until 8 at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOME, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro. 843.538.5408

---