Barbara Bingham Garrison

Barbara Bingham Garrison, a former teacher, real estate broker, B&B innkeeper, mother of three, stepmother of four, grandmother of three, great grandmother of three, and mistress of several discerning cats died at 94 on August 3, 2020 at Maple Leaf Health Care in Statesville, NC after a brief illness.

She was born in Sanford, North Carolina on December 26, 1925, the youngest child of the late Dr. James Pearl Bingham and Annie Fletcher Bingham of Lexington, N.C. She was preceded in death by her older siblings, Dr. James P. Bingham, Jr., Dr. William Louis Bingham, and Mrs. Louise Bingham Smith.

At 16, she entered Greensboro College and completed her degree in 1946 at Wake Forest College where she met Paul Leslie Garrison. They were married on August 23, 1947. While he completed medical studies, she taught at Sedge Garden School in Kernersville, N.C. She was an active member of Wake Forest Baptist Church where she served on the Diaconate. While instilling a love of books in her three children, she also completed her Master’s Degree in history at Wake Forest. Dr. Garrison preceded her in death on November 23, 1967.

As a young widow, she was pleased to serve as an instructor at Winston-Salem State from 1968 - 1971. After a year of further studies at the University of Maryland, she taught history at North Davidson High School in Welcome, North Carolina.

Following her years as a teacher, she embarked on a career in real estate, during which she met and married Elmer Boyd Doub on June 5, 1976. Together they created Carolina HomeLand, a real estate company in Winston-Salem. Mr. Doub preceded her in death on February 4, 1991.

After her career in real estate, Mrs. Garrison was the proprietor of the Mickel House Bed and Breakfast on Fifth Street in Winston-Salem, a business that allowed her to combine her gifts as a hostess, master gardener, and celebrant of history. The opportunity to entertain her guests and make new friends provided her with a great deal of satisfaction.

Mrs. Garrison is survived by her children : Dr. Elizabeth Ann Garrison (Paul Boone) of Austin, Texas. Dr. Paul L. Garrison, Jr. (Peggy) and Mr. Roy Charles Garrison (Elaine), as well as her four step-children: Mrs. Becky Shinlever (Eddie), Reverend Ronald Doub (Mary), Robin Blum (Said Sadat), and Donna Carter (Keith). She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren: Ms. Lori Crowder, Mr. Ian Garrison, and Mr. Neil Garrison and by three great grandchildren: Nash, Cooper, and Finley Crowder.

The family would like to thank the medical director, nurses, and medical aides of Maple Leaf Healthcare who provided wonderful support to Mrs. Garrison and her family. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or Wake Forest Baptist Church.