GRIGSBY

Clyde Lowell Grigsby, of Houston, TX passed February 17, 2001. He was born March 4, 1932 in Tatum, TX.

He was a member of the congregation at Unity Baptist Church, a member of the YMCA-NW, VFW, and served in the armed forces during the Korean War.

He is survived by his sons, Kenneth Roy Grigsby, Richard Lowell Grigsby and wife Deborah, and Randall Craig Grigsby all of Houston, TX; his mother, Oleda Grigsby, of Houston TX; brothers, Billy V Grigsby, of McQueeney, TX. Bobby A Grigsby of Ft. Worth, TX; a sister, Linda Grigsby Adams of Humble TX; nephew, Matthew Adams; nieces, Amy Adams, Elizabeth G. Howell, Ellen G. Weaver, Terrie Grigsby, Michael Grigsby, Mitchell Grigsby; and a host of other friends.

Viewing will be held Monday, February 19, 2001 from 5 PM until 9 PM for family and friends, with the services at 12 Noon on Tuesday February 20, 2001 at Rosewood South Chapel.

Houston Chronicle, February 19, 2001, Monday page 28A. Submitted by Sally Pinkos Brantner.

In Memory of Jessie Raymond Gibson

Services were held at Brookside Funeral Chapel 11:30 A.M., Monday November 16, 1998. Interment Brookside Memorial Park.

Survivors Lenora Jones Gibson

Daughters Bettie Guilliams, Bobbie Plocheck

Son Jarrell Gibson

Eight Grandchildren

Seventeen Great Grandchildren

Preceded in death by his great granddaughter Angel Plocheck

Officiating at the funeral for Jessie Raymond Gibson was Rev. Kenneth Myers.

Source: Jerilyn Jones Yates.

William Lafayette "Bill" Garrett was born May 31, 1893, near Franklin, Robertson County, Texas, to William Enoch Garrett and Mary Catherine "Polly" Smith. By 1900 William Enoch Garrett had moved his family to Currie in Navarro County and had bought a farm in that community.

The Garrett family's interesting family history can be traced back to their ancestor, Jeremiah Garrett, 1774-1835, who moved into Georgia from South Carolina between 1809-1820 and took part in the Georgia Land Lottery of 1820. His first wife was Annie Miller who died about 1821 and left Jeremiah with ten children to raise.

His second marriage was to Mary King and in 1822 the family moved to Pike County, Alabama. In 1830 the family was enumerated by the census taker as having five boys and five girls. Sometime between 1830 and 1840 Jeremiah Garrett was murdered by a band of Creek Indians while he was plowing his land near the Pea River in Pike County, Alabama. This location is near present-day Troy, Alabama.

Robert Milligan Garrett, youngest child born to Jeremiah and Annie Garrett, was born July 10, 1822, in Pike County, Alabama and married Emily Frances Matthews in Pike County, Ala. in 1841. Robert M. and Emily moved to Texas in 1851 and settled eight miles west of Grapeland, Houston County, Texas. Two of the sons born to this couple, Elijah and James Arthur Garrett, lost their lives fighting for the Confederate States of America.

Other children born to this couple included Sarah Ann who married James Henry Kolb; Martha Ellen married H.L. Smith; William Enoch married Mary Catherine "Polly" Smith; John Frank married, first, Nanny L. Mathisand second, Cora Alice Shofner; Malinda "Linnie," married a Smith and Robert J. married Vianna Childress.

William Enoch and Robert J. Garrett moved to Robertson County, Texas, in the 1870's and by 1881 had moved their families into Navarro County near Currie and lived there for the remainder of their lives. Children born to William E. Garrett and Mary Catherine "Polly" Smith (see Isham A. Smith family in Vol. I Freestone County history) included the following: Boyd E. married Nellie Matlock; Lucy Ava married Roy Ragsdale; Arthur D. died 1897; Clarence S. married Mattie Brown; Fred married Emma Chapman and William L. married Myra Belle Murphy. (See Murphy family in Volume I of Freestone County History).

William L. "Bill" Garrett and Myra Belle Murphy were married in Wortham on December 24, 1914. The first few years of their married life were spent on a farm near Currie. In 1925 Bill sold the farm in Navarro County and moved to Wortham to operate a variety store on the main street of Wortham for several years. In 1932 he sold his store to become city secretary for the City of Wortham and remained in this position until his retirement in June of 1968.

Three sons were born to this couple, two of whom reached maturity, Leroy Garrett and W.L. Garrett, Jr. Leroy was graduated from Wortham High School in 1936 and Bill, Jr. in 1938. Both sons served their country during World War II, Leroy serving in the Army Air Force and Bill, Jr. serving in the U.S. Navy.

Bill, Jr. Garrett married, first, Barbara Boyett, and the children from this marriage were Melvin and Billy Garrett. Melvin married Patricia Gough and they have a son, Mark. Billy Garrett married Wilma Elaine Miller, and they have two children, a daughter, Kellie Elaine, and a son, Robert Ryan. Bill, Jr.'s second marriage was to Virginia Evans Arnold, and they live in McLean, Virginia.

Bill and Myra were active members of the First Presbyterian Church of Wortham, where Bill served as church secretary for many years. They were both active in Order of the Eastern Star, Bill serving as Worthy Patron and Myra as Worthy Matron. Bill held a lifetime membership in the Longbotham Masonic Lodge.

Myra died July 31, 1965, and Bill died October 6, 1979. Both were buried in the Wortham Cemetery.

Source: "History of Freestone County, Volume Two, 1989" by Freestone County Historical Commission, Hunter Publishing Company, Winston-Salem, N.C.