Margaret Louise McLeod Garrett

Posted on March 4, 2021

Margaret Louise McLeod Garrett went home to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Feb. 23, 2021, at the age of 95, in Arlington, Texas.

Margaret was born on July 8, 1925, in Greenville and moved to Perry soon thereafter.

She was the third child of Andrew A. and Ira Barker McLeod, and she gave her heart to Jesus and was baptized at the age of 13. She loved and was active in the youth group at First Baptist Church in Perry.

After graduating from and serving as a majorette at Taylor County High School, she attended business school and worked at the Florida tag department in Tallahassee.

In October 1947, Margaret met the love of her life Thomas “Tom” Garrett, and they married on her parents’ anniversary, Jan. 11, 1948. Their daughter Carole was born a year later.

Shortly after marriage, the Garretts moved to Columbus, Ga., where Margaret lived for 67 years. She was a bookkeeper and salesperson for Garrett’s Home of Photography for 52 years, retiring at age 82. When Tom passed away, Margaret depended on the Lord for strength, and she stayed busy at work, church, with friends, gospel singings and traveling.

Margaret was full of life, never met a stranger, and told everyone about her Jesus.

Like her daddy, she laughed loud and often. She taught Sunday School to five-year-olds for 25 years. Tom and Margaret also taught youth at church, and their “young people” always found food and an open door any time they stopped by the Garrett home.

Known as “Nana” to her granddaughters and great-grandbabies, they adored her, and she adored them. After living in the same house for 60 years in Columbus, they are forever thankful Nana moved to Texas at age 90 and lived her last five years close to Carole and her immediate family.

Margaret was preceded in death by: Tom, her husband of 33 years; parents, Andrew A. and Ira Barker McLeod; sisters, Myrtis Mohawk (Hiawatha), Frances Chapman (Bill), Mildred “Dickie” Byrd (Tack), and Ava McGee (Bob); brother, Andrew L. “Buck” McLeod (Loretta); and nephews, Joe and Mike Murphy.

Margaret is survived by: a daughter, Carole Garrett Dodd (Royce); granddaughters, Shelley Ford (Michael) and Sommer Clayman (Jeremy); and great-grandchildren, Meg and Kate Clayman, and Daniel and Caleb Ford; along with numerous nieces, nephews and dear friends.

A memorial service will be held at Burns Funeral Home of Perry at a future date once family and friends are able to travel.

In lieu of flowers, please give to your favorite charity or faith-based organization.