Hazel Mae Garrett
November 24, 2016Share using:
Great and powerful is the god of our hope and salvation and, in His infinite wisdom, He called Mother Hazel Mae Garrett from labor to rest on November 24, 2016 at Bay Health Medical Center in Dover, DE.
Mother Hazel Mae Garrett, daughter of the late Thurland R., Sr. and the late Mary H. Garrett was born September 6, 1943 in Oxford, North Carolina. She was the middle child of three. Mother Garrett graduated from Mary Potter Academy which was the only school for African Americans at that time in Granville, NC. She was a Mary Potter Academy Alumni. She later moved to Bronx, New York where she became a dental hygienist. It is there that she would run a community dental clinic.
In 1967, she moved to Trenton, New Jersey where she worked at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital. There she met and married Arthur W Harris. In 1968 they were married and from this union came one child; Apostle Sonya Harris..
Hazel was a caring and loving person. She loved going to church as well as serving in the Lord’s House and in the community. She enjoyed helping others and spending time with her family.
In 1971, Mother Garrett became an active member of Bibleway Temple Church of God in Christ under the leadership of the late Bishop L.T. Blackshear who was the State Bishop for the Church of God In Christ Delaware Jurisdiction. She was a member of the Missionary Board, served as President of the Usher Board and assisted Mother Ethyl Warren with preparing meals in “the hall” Mother Garrett was a traveling Evangelist Missionary who, at that time was the only female who had permission from the bishop to travel and run revivals. As a result of her love for souls and missionary work, Bishop Blackshear assigned her to assist two genesis ministries; Elder Robert Williams, Sr. in Felton, DE and Elder James Butler in Dover, DE. From there she took a leave and assisted Bishop Lorenzo C. Jones in Lincoln, DE.
In 2001, she stepped into the office of Pastor and began her outreach ministry in Dover. After serving the community, she would assist Pastor Darryl Gibbs in Smyrna, DE and later work with Crossroads Christian Church in Dover under the leadership of Pastor Anthony Wallace. She also, assisted her daughter, Apostle Sonya, in her ministry at God’s Bounty Ministries, Int ‘1 in Wilmington, DE as her health permitted. Mother Garrett was truly a devoted Church Mother, Evangelist, Missionary, Prayer Warrior, Preacher, and Teacher to her church family.
Mother Garrett was preceded in death by her parents: Thurland R Garrett, Sr., Mary H. Garrett; her brother, Thurland (TR) R. Garrett, Jr,. her god-mother, May Helen Whittaker; and one foster son, John Thomas.
She leaves to cherish her memories; her daughter, Apostle Sonya Y. Harris of Dover, DE; one sister and brother-in-law, Mary Ann and Ronald Casson, Sr. of Dover, DE; two sister-in-laws, Sherry Garrett of Michigan and Carolyn Harris of Dover; one adopted granddaughter, Pristina Melton of Dover; one great-grandchild, Paris Melton; a godson, Tyrone J Snipes of Palo Alto, Ca; One former Brother-In-Law whom she raised and loved as a son, Anthony G. Harris and his children, Aaron & Evan Harris; her God-father, Herman Whittaker, Sr. of Louisiana; two God-sisters, Janet V. Whittaker of Louisiana and Katrina J. Jones (Charles)of New Jersey; eight foster children; Dawn, Carlos, Sammy, James, Ne-Ne, Barbara, Mary, and Mattie; Jive foster grandchildren: Tyrone, Catherine, Jayceir, Irvina, Laqueena, and Darnell, Jr.; two special friends of over 40 years, Mother Christine Gibbs of Dover and Mother Mariam Boyd of Florida and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, ministry associates, co-workers, and friends.
A funeral service will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, December 3, 2016 at the Pippin Funeral Home, 119 W. Camden Wyoming Avenue, Wyoming, DE 19934 where there will be a viewing from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M. Saturday. Burial will follow in Whatcoat Cemetery. Online condolences may be made via www.pippinfuneralhome.com.
