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(Ed. note: This obit was missed in the 2009-2010 Journals, primarily because no word was received. He was in BWC part of the time and died in the Wisconsin Conference.)

The Rev. Harold Garrett, 87, a retired Elder, died from a massive heart attack May 16, 2009. A memorial service was held on the family property in Montpelier, Va. Participating in the service were the Revs. Eugene W. Matthews, Oliver Jennings, and Mamie A. Williams.

As an adult, Garrett was an active and dedicated church member and lay leader. After years in the Federal Government, he heard the call to ministry and received his Local Preachers License from the African Methodist Episcopal Church. While serving an AME church, he decided to further his theological knowledge and was admitted to Wesley Theological Seminary, where he received an M. Div., and transferred to the United Methodist Church. He also studied at Howard University School of Divinity.

In the early 1980s, Garrett served as assistant minister at Albright UMC in Washington, D.C., then at Petworth UMC. He transferred to the New York Conference for a couple years and was ordained an Elder by Bishop Joseph Yeakel. He returned to the Baltimore Conference in 1984 and was appointed to Asbury Town Neck UMC. In 1987, he was appointed to Lincoln Park UMC, and retired from there in 1989.

He then transferred to the Wisconsin Conference and served two churches there until 1993 when he retired again and the family moved to Montpelier, Va. At the time of his death, Garrett was a member of the Wisconsin Conference.

Garrett was born in Baltimore, one of 14 siblings, attended public schools there, and joined the U.S. Army, Cavalry Division. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and joined the Army Reserves in 1946, from which he was discharged in 1959, and after a second enlistment, in 1962.

During the 1950s, he was employed by the Office of the Surgeon General of the United States in the infancy of the computer age. He remained with the Federal Government for 30 years, ending his career as a management executive in the Defense Intelligence Agency in the Computer Operations and Electronic Data area.

During these years he earned an Associate of Arts degree in Philosophy and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.

He and Jennie LaRue were married in 1954 and had two children who survive.

Garrett was dedicated and diligent in all his assignments and always involved in community service. He was an active member of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of the state of Wisconsin, a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Phylaxis Society.

He had many hobbies including playing the piano, boating, horses and attending horse shows, doing television repair, watching sporting events and discussing political events.

A memorial brick is placed on the Memorial Tree at Asbury Town Neck UMC in Severna Park.

Survivors include his wife of nearly 55 years; son, Elliott John Garrett, and daughter Veda Garrett.

Condolences may be sent to Jennie LaRue-Garrett, 18557 Mountain Road, Montpelier, VA 23192.