Martha Jane Garrett, 78, passed away Friday, September 13, 2024 at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo. She was born November 25, 1945 at NMMC to William Lowry Garrett and Frodia Tucker Garrett. She grew up in the Auburn community until she graduated from Mooreville High School in 1962. She went on to MUW to earn a Bachelor of Science in Social Studies and Social Work in 1966, and MSU, where she received her Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling in 1972. After working in several sales and counseling positions in Tupelo, she moved to the Jackson and Pearl, MS area in 1989 and worked for the MS State Hospital as a coordinator for the Work Opportunity Program, and later for the MS Department of Education as Coordinator of Counseling Services and Division Director of Counseling from 1993 until she retired in 2009. Before earning her degrees, she served as a missionary in Sao Paulo, Brazil from 1966-1969, teaching Portuguese Bible classes, correspondence classes, and working with Brazilian youth. In her retirement years, she handed out Psalm 91 books to first responders and military personnel, as well as to friends and neighbors, when she moved back to Tupelo in 2020. Her other passions were studying scripture, asking everyone she met if they knew Jesus, voting, playing the harpsichord and piano, laughing at jokes, and getting updates of her great- nieces and great-nephews. She enjoyed identifying different birds in her yard and loved her cats dearly.
She is survived by one brother: Arthur Garrett (Kay) of Saltillo; two nieces: Amanda Garrett of Saltillo and Anna Leigh Murphree (Jason) of Corinth; one nephew: Jon David Garrett (Mary) of Mooreville; and six great-nieces and great-nephews: Wyatt, Declan, and Cora Murphree and Braxton, Ellie, and Grayson Garrett.
She was preceded in death by her parents and friend/former mentee, Donna Whitaker.
Memorial service will be 2:00 pm Sunday, September 22, 2024, at Lee Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Lee Memorial Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements. Memorials may be made to Sanctuary Hospice House: 5159 W. Main St. Tupelo, MS 38803
