Sarah Garrett

Sarah Jane Beasley Garrett passed into eternal rest on the evening of Saturday February 6, 2021. She was a member of St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church. Following Sam’s passing in 2015 she became a resident at Covenant Woods in 2016.

A drop in visitation will be held at Striffler - Hamby Mortuary from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday February 11, 2021 A private graveside service will be conducted by Dr. Otis Corbitt and Pastor Shirley Redmond at Ft. Mitchell, Alabama on Friday February 12, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Sarah will be buried with her beloved husband, Sam L. Garrett, Sr. Striffler - Hamby Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Sarah was born on April 24, 1934 in rural Harnett County, North Carolina to Hal B. Beasley and Madie Jane Peacock Beasley. She graduated from Cleveland High School in 1951 and married the love of her life, Sam Garrett on November 10th of that year. Thus began a life of adventure and achievements.

Sam was in the military and they moved to Camp Gordon, Georgia to begin their life together. On November 21, 1952 their son, Sam L. Garrett, Jr. was born followed 3 years later by a daughter, Deborah J. Garrett Wright. Sarah and Sam were stationed in Landstuhl, Germany from 1956- 1959. During their time there they traveled often and visited many WW military memorial sites.

In early 1959 the family was relocated to Ft. Benning, Georgia where Sarah was to continue her life as a homemaker and pursue her dream of one day becoming an educator. Another daughter, Geri Marie Garrett Corbitt was born in 1962. After Geri’s birth Sarah enrolled in business school and became a secretary. As she guided her children through school, Boy scouts, Girl scouts and church activities she never lost sight of being a teacher.

In 1965 Sarah began work as a school secretary at the original Midland Elementary School. She also began her classes at Columbus College. In 1966 Midland Elementary was closed and Waddell Elementary opened, where Sarah became the first school secretary.

In June of 1967 the family was relocated to Stuttgart, Germany where Sarah continued her collegiate studies through the University of Maryland. During this time she was a daycare supervisor and kindergarten teacher’s aide. Since the family had been in Germany 12 years earlier she and Sam revisited many of the places they had been, now with 3 children in tow.

The family returned to Ft. Benning in the summer of 1970. That fall Sarah started her senior year at Columbus College and finished her B.S. Ed. degree in 1971. She was hired by Muscogee County School District as a second grade teacher at Beallwood Elementary School where she remained for 7 years. Throughout these years Sarah continued her education and graduated with 2 Master of Education degrees, as well as a degree as a Reading Specialist.

From that second grade classroom she became a seventh grade counselor at Eddy Jr. High School. Never quite content to sit back and let life roll along she pursued and graduated with a 6 year Specialist degree in Administration. And after another 7 years she became the principal of Forrest Road elementary. It was a crowning achievement in her life and one she relished.

Retiring in 1995 she devoted her life to her family, church and her beloved Alpha Delta Kappa. Having joined the Alpha Chi chapter a number of years earlier she became chapter president, district president, and was elected State President, only the second educator from Columbus to achieve that distinction. Following her term as State President she went on to become a Regional Vice President. She and Sam traveled extensively throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. As she supported Sam in his military career, he returned that support for her many educational pursuits. They truly were a team.

Sarah is survived by her three children Sam Garrett, Jr. and his wife Patti, Deborah Wright and Burley, and Geri Corbitt and Otis. She was also blessed with 6 grandchildren Christopher Nelson (Shelby), Matt Garrett (Debra), Molly Wright, Barret Wright, Kenyon Corbitt and Devon Corbitt. Most especially, she leaves her 3 precious great-grandchildren AuraBlue Rogers, Ryan Wright Starkweather and Maverick Lawrence Garrett.

In lieu of flowers please make memorial gifts to St. Jude Hospital or a charity of your choice.