William Burruss Garrett

On the afternoon of Thursday, September 26, 2024, just past 12:30 pm, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ called his good and faithful servant, WILLIAM B. GARRETT, to His Home in Heaven. Beloved husband to Mildred Leonya Garrett, this was a highly principled, wise, soft-spoken and loving man, who loved his wife and four children as “Christ loved the Church”. [Ephesians 5:25] Watching he and his wife together all throughout the years was like watching two who became one. [Genesis 2:24] Their favorite song, that they often sang together, was: “Side by Side”. He was a true “family man”, who fully enjoyed and embraced his life as a husband and father– always steadfast in demonstrating to his wife and children (on a daily basis) through words, actions and deeds, his dedication to God and to them. He lived the words of the Bible: “If you … know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” [Luke 11:13] Born and raised in Dillwyn of Buckingham County, Virginia, William was one of six children – Garland, Meade, Haynesworth (Hank), William (Bill), Laura and Thomas (Tom) – born to Mr. and Mrs. John Henry and Viola Garrett. Only two of his siblings remain: Mrs. Laura Perkins and Mr. Thomas Garrett, Sr. Throughout his life, William was committed to serving others, using the talents God imbued him with, to expand his impact upon the community at large. He was taught by his parents to love the Lord; and he and his family attended church regularly at Oak Hill Baptist Church in Buckingham County. He was a student of the Bible and found inspiration in listening to spirituals and gospel hymns, with his favorites to include “We Are Marching to Zion”, “Somebody Prayed for Me” and “If I Can Help Somebody.” William attended and graduated from the Buckingham County School System. After graduating from the Carter G. Woodson High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he completed Basic Training at Fort Jackson, MOS Training at Fort Knox and then served in Germany. In addition to his duties as a soldier, he was a boxer during his time with the military, involved in many fight exhibitions. Upon his honorary discharge from the U.S. Army, he moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where (because of him being an avid writer and his passion for reading) he wrote sermons for a local Pastor. He then gained employment with the U.S. Postal Service in Baltimore, where he served for thirty-seven years before retiring, which included his appointment as the First Vice President of Local 202 of the National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees, the first federal union in the country to allow African Americans to join. Shortly after his hire with the Baltimore U.S. Postal Service, it was there that he met the love of his life, Mildred. They became one another’s best friends, with shared values that included a deep faith in God, the Holy Word of The Bible, family, civil rights for all, and community activism. They devoted their lives to each other and to all of their shared values. William always believed what his late father told him: “The greatest gift that a father can give to his children is to love and respect their mother.” William did just that his entire life. His unconditional love was also always extended to his children. To describe him as a supportive, loving father is not enough to encompass all that he gave of himself to ensure the well-being of his wife and children. He gave his all! With a belief that education is one of the best foundations for improving one’s life and the lives of others, he and Mildred always encouraged their children to use education to follow their dreams. He’d say: “Education is something that, once earned, no one will ever be able to take it away from you … Just do your best and God will do the rest.” With a trust in God and dedication to supporting their children, William and Mildred sent all four children (Mildred Lewretta, Lewyn, Sarah and Harriet) through college and graduate schools. As noted, William was very committed to the fight for civil rights for all and to serving his community. Resultantly, he became very involved with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the fight for liberties, becoming the Vice President of the Baltimore Branch of the NAACP. For many years of his life, he participated in numerous marches for civil rights and volunteered to promote activities in furtherance of voting rights, including working polls during elections. In addition to duties with the NAPFE Union and attending all of the school-related functions, sports and music activities of their children, he and Mildred became members of several civic and religious organizations, to include The People’s Democratic Action Organization, the Howard Park Civic Association, The Basilica of the Assumption, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Episcopal Church, and The New All Saints Catholic Church. Some would think that, with all of the activities and supports that William and his wife provided to their family and community, there would be no time for fun. However, nothing could be farther from the truth. The Garrett household was always filled with laughter, the smell of good food, and the sounds of great music, especially jazz, blues and gospel tunes. William loved a good joke, as he listened to albums by Moms Mabley, Pigmeat Markham, Redd Foxx, and Richard Pryor. He also enjoyed having relatives and friends visit, preparing meals with Mildred, including him baking all kinds of delicious deserts, playing his vast genres of music, and listening to the rehearsals of his children’s band and singing group (Together with the Shades of Soul) in the clubroom of the home. To his very last days, his children’s childhood friends (who are now seniors themselves) would still drop by the family home to visit him. This was where they remember feeling welcome and regarded Papa Bill and Mama Mildred as their surrogate parents. William also enjoyed watching and being a part of sporting events. He ran many 26.2-mile marathons, up until the age of 78 years, many times with his son, Lewyn. In fact, he’d often say how his two greatest experiences with running were: “(first) having the honor of running with my son, and (second) being nominated and selected to be one of the Torch Bearers that carried the Olympic Torch in the 1996 Torch Relay to Atlanta, the year that Muhammad Ali lit the torch there. He loved being in attendance over the years to support his children and grandchildren in their various sporting interests and also watching the Orioles and Ravens games. William’s wife, Mildred, predeceased him in 2016 and his daughter, Mildred Lewretta Jones (Peaches), predeceased him in 2000. He leaves to mourn: his son, Lewyn Scott Garrett, Esquire, Chief Judge of the Orphans Court for Baltimore City; his daughters, Dr. Sarah Garrett and Harriet Garrett; his daughter- in-law, Joyce Garrett, R.N.; grandchildren, LaJuan Joy Garrett, Londrea (Lonnie) Garrett, Christine Warren, Chelsea Lewretta Sheckells (husband, Nicholas Crossen), and Sarah Lewretta Colbert; great-grandchildren, Makenna and Beau Nicholas Crossen; siblings, Laura Perkins (sister) and Thomas Garrett, Sr. (brother); brother-in-law, Andrew McKay; sistersin-law, Becky McKay, Annie Lois Bacote, Jean Garrett, Goldie Garrett, and Polly Garrett; sons-in-law, Thomas Jones III and Kevin Colbert; and a host of other dear relatives and friends

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William Burruss Garrett

February 26, 1937 - September 26, 2024