Mr. Paul Sumner Garrett, a 47-year resident of White House, Tennessee, died Tuesday, September 7, 2021, from kidney failure. He was 92 years old.
Mr. Garrett is survived by his two Sons Paul T. Garrett (Ocala, Florida) and Barry L. (Janet) Garrett (White House); Grandsons Joshua L. Garrett and Jason K. (Kelsie) Garrett, both of Springfield, Tennessee; Brothers Clifton and Willard Garrett (both of White House) and Sister Sue Ann Garrett Williams (Hendersonville, Tennessee).
Mr. Garrett was preceded in death by his wife Shirley Ann Albert Garrett; his parents Robert Elmer and Claudia Almedee (Allie) Hardaway Garrett; Brothers James (J.D.), Porter, Homer, Floyd, Clyde, Roger, and Ray Garrett; and Sister Ruth Garrett Bolton.
Mr. Garrett was born on March 29, 1929, on a family farm on Shell Road, in the New Hope community of Hendersonville. He attended New Hope School and Hendersonville High School, graduating in the Class of 1947.
In October of 1947, he went to work for the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis (N.C.&St.L.) Railroad in the Car Shops in Nashville. He spent the rest of his public working life at N.C.&St.L and at its successor railroads, L&N and CSX, in Nashville, rising to shop and wrecker foreman positions.
On February 28, 1948, he married Shirley Ann Albert, whom he had first met when he was seven. During their seventy-two years and ten days of marriage, they raised two sons and two grandsons. They loved traveling, going as far as Hawaii, Alaska, Europe, and Central and South America. He went to all fifty states but never lived more than fifteen miles from where he was born.
Mr. Garrett was a skilled craftsman at all the building trades, building his home and all of the other buildings on his farm. He loved his greenhouse and working the vegetable garden with his grandsons. Paul and Shirley loved western square dancing and were long-time members of the Springfield Squares dance club. Growing up the sixth of twelve children, he was a loving “Grand Pa” to his grandsons and his many nieces and nephews of several generations.
All are welcome to attend and celebrate Paul’s life during visiting hours of 4 PM to 8 PM, Thursday, September 9, 2021, and 10 AM to 1 PM, Friday, September 10, 2021, at Austin & Bell Funeral Home, 533 Highway 76, White House, TN 37188. The funeral is scheduled for 1 PM, Friday, September 10, 2021, at Austin & Bell with Brother Billy Bowers officiating. After the funeral, the interment will be at White House Memorial Gardens, 3639 Highway 31W, White House, Tennessee. ARRANGEMENTS ENTRUSTED TO AUSTIN & BELL 533 White House, TN 37188 (615)672-5000
