Lion of the Week

Lynn Garrett

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My ancestors were the earliest settlers in North Central Arkansas when the territory was opened for settlement in about 1850. The Hendrix family was never wealthy, but were always looking for new opportunities. They first settled in Philadelphia in the 1600's, then in the 1700's were in South Carolina, by 1800 they were found in Humphreys County, Tennessee, 1840 in Dyer County, Tenn., and then by 1850 were in Craighead County, Arkansas.

I was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, the second child of Norman and Esther Hendrix Smith. Both parents were school teachers in the days when the teaching profession was so poorly paid that they could barely provide for their family. I went to school with my mother from as early as I can remember, well before I was old enough to attend as a regular student.

My father took a job with the Railway Mail Service about the time for me to start regular school and we moved to Memphis. He was later transferred to Little Rock, where I attended school through the 8th grade. The Railway Mail Service was the delivery service for the Post Office, and the Clerks worked on passenger trains sorting, collecting and depositing mail along their route. Later, the service was phased out, and Dad was transferred to the regular Post Office in Memphis.

My high school work was completed in Memphis. I worked for two years in the office of an architectural firm in Memphis before starting college. I graduated from Memphis University which was conveniently located just a couple miles from my home. My degree was in Elementary Education. Later, I worked toward a Master's degree in psychology and counseling at the Nashville campus of the University of Tennessee.

Although I knew of Bill Garrett through mutual friends in Nashville, we did not formally meet until he went to Memphis to U.T. Medical School. He had finished his pre-med at Vanderbilt University (He usually would not tell that part), and had planned to be a physician. However, he had a summer job with family friends who owned Wilson Quick Drug Company, and found that he enjoyed pharmacy more than the medical field, so changed his major when he entered U.T. Memphis. My parents were members of the Methodist church where Bill started attending when he went to Memphis. Because he was new in town, they befriended him, inviting him to Sunday dinner, etc. They soon introduced us, and we started dating his sophomore year.

We both graduated from college in June, 1997, and were married on June 24th. That was a busy month. We had a beautiful wedding at the Methodist Church where we attended, with many friends and family joining us, and our reception was held in my parents' home, which was a usual practice among my friends at that time.

My immediate family is very small now. My parents and my brother are all deceased. I have three nephews who live far away. Bill and I take great pride in our two children. We have a daughter, Carol and her husband, Todd. Carol graduated from Vanderbilt through their Radiology program with Aquinas College. She went then to Georgia Medical College and earned a degree in Nuclear Medicine. She does nuclear cardiology at the Bedford County Hospital. They live in College Grove. Our son David and his wife Vivian live in historic Laurel Hill in Franklin. David graduated from U.T. Knoxville, and has a law degree from Cumberland University in Alabama. He specializes in family law (divorce) with Cheatham, Palermo and Garrett on Music Row in Nashville. Our two wonderful grandsons are Miller Caldwell Garrett, 8 ® years old and William Levi Moss, 9 months old.

The Lions Club has been a part of my life since Bill became a member in the 1960's. Although females were not allowed to be members, I took an active part in promoting the programs Bill was involved in for many years. It was only in 2003 that I actually became a member of the Club. Back in the earlier days of the Club, there was a regular "Ladies Night", which was quite a social gathering before there was much entertainment available in Franklin. The ladies were also invited to all the special meetings such as installation and Christmas parties. Many times as many as a hundred people attended these events.

That was in the day when Lions Club had a piano, and Ouida Thompson never missed a meeting playing piano for dinner, and accompanying Claude Callicott who led the singing. Mrs. Thompson went on to become the first lady Lion in the Franklin Club, and probably the first Lady Lion in the whole organization.

My interests besides doting on grandsons, includes my Church activities. I have been a member of the Franklin Methodist Church for about 50 years, both children were baptized, married, and their children baptized there. Genealogy is a very involved interest. I have documented my family for many generations. I am a member of hereditary societies, Daughters of the American Colonists, Colonial Dames of the XVII Century, Daughters of the American Revolution and United Daughters of the Confederacy. All of these organizations are extremely patriotic, and patriotism is a passion for me.

I taught third grade until my children were born, then stayed at home with them until they were in high school, when I began working in the bridal business. First, I made dresses from my home. Then a new bridal shop opened on Main Street, and I did all the alterations for them for several years. Because of the work schedule, I decided to start a "Part time" business from my home where I would do a few alterations, sell a few dresses and rent bridesmaids dresses. When that part time job became full and overtime, I opened my first bridal shop in a commercial building, and moved to the present location in 1999. I have been involved in the bridal business for more than 20 years.

The greatest loss in my life has been the passing of my dear Bill on May 11, 2006. We had dated for two years and been married for almost 49 years. It is hard to remember life without him or to anticipate the future when he is not a life partner.

My goal now is to serve God, Home and Country by serving God to the best of my ability, doing everything I possibly can to love and support my family and continuing the work which Bill started many years ago when he joined Lions Club.

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