Anne Neese Garrett entered her eternal life on August 5, 2024 after a long fight with declining health. Her spirit will be carried on by her husband Tony Garrett, their three daughters; Tonya Garrett, DeNeese Stewart (Shane Stewart) and Ansley Adair (Benji Adair); five granddaughters; Taylor Hodges, Hannah Anderson, Sophia Sampson, Joley Spaventa, and Tinsley Adair; great-grandson Kalihan Anderson along with many nieces and nephews, and numerous family members and friends from all walks of life. There is no doubt that to know Anne was to love her.
Anne was born on March 30, 1945 in LaGrange, Georgia to the late James Leon Neese and Francis Bailey Neese. She was the oldest of their four daughters; Pamala LaRue (preceded in death), Bobbie Pharr and Mary Francis Hodges. Anne’s upbringing was wholesome and loving, with some of her favorite memories being the time spent on family vacations at Panama City Beach. Her fun and sometimes mischievous stories of childhood are numerous and filled with her sisters and her life long friend, Pat Prather. Anne spent many afternoons at her father’s service station, shopping at Mansour’s department store in LaGrange, and charging cosmetics to her father’s account at the neighborhood pharmacy. As a teenager, Anne was a majorette and played the saxophone in the LaGrange High School band. Anne met her husband, Tony, in 10th grade chemistry class. They became close friends, but did not become serious until college. She graduated from LaGrange High School on June 3, 1963 and continued her education at Brenau College in Gainesville, Georgia, and LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia.
Anne’s work experiences included time spent as a bookkeeper at Callaway Mills in LaGrange, Georgia and the Reserve Life Insurance Company in Columbus, Georgia, as a salesperson at Neels department store in Thomasville, Georgia, and many years as an educator in the Thomasville City School System. After her numerous years of work, Anne became a stay-at-home mom, homemaker, and volunteered for the Thomasville Music and Drama Troupe.
Anne always enjoyed being around others, whether at work or at play. Some of Anne’s favorite pastimes include walking the beach looking for “the perfect shell,” listening to her favorite records, including the “Happiest Girl in the whole USA” by Donna Fargo and “Moody Blue” by Elvis Presley. But most of all, she enjoyed journaling, and studying her Bible. Anne would set her clock to watch her favorite teacher, Rev. Charles Stanley, each Sunday. Not only did Anne love The Lord, she also had a generous and giving heart and enjoyed supporting Saint Joseph’s Indian school in South Dakota. Anne’s favorite holiday has always been Christmas, and she emphasized the celebration of Jesus’ birthday. Each Christmas she decorated her home beautifully, turned on the Christmas music, and warmed the pre-ordered Publix ham in the oven.
Friends and family alike will forever recall Anne with fondness and love. She will be long remembered for her love of tradition, boldness, incredible attention to detail, and thorough embodiment of Southern culture.
Anne will be laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Thomasville, Georgia. In lieu of flowers please consider making a memorial donation in honor of Anne Garrett to Saint Joseph’s Indian school in South Dakota in support of the Lakota (Sioux) children. ( www.stjo.org/flowers or by phone at 1-855-777-3433) Anne’s memorial service will be announced at a later date.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Anne Neese Garrett, please visit our flower store.
Anne was born on March 30, 1945 in LaGrange, Georgia to the late James Leon Neese and Francis Bailey Neese. She was the oldest of their four daughters; Pamala LaRue (preceded in death), Bobbie Pharr and Mary Francis Hodges. Anne’s upbringing was wholesome and loving, with some of her favorite memories being the time spent on family vacations at Panama City Beach. Her fun and sometimes mischievous stories of childhood are numerous and filled with her sisters and her life long friend, Pat Prather. Anne spent many afternoons at her father’s service station, shopping at Mansour’s department store in LaGrange, and charging cosmetics to her father’s account at the neighborhood pharmacy. As a teenager, Anne was a majorette and played the saxophone in the LaGrange High School band. Anne met her husband, Tony, in 10th grade chemistry class. They became close friends, but did not become serious until college. She graduated from LaGrange High School on June 3, 1963 and continued her education at Brenau College in Gainesville, Georgia, and LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia.
Anne’s work experiences included time spent as a bookkeeper at Callaway Mills in LaGrange, Georgia and the Reserve Life Insurance Company in Columbus, Georgia, as a salesperson at Neels department store in Thomasville, Georgia, and many years as an educator in the Thomasville City School System. After her numerous years of work, Anne became a stay-at-home mom, homemaker, and volunteered for the Thomasville Music and Drama Troupe.
Anne always enjoyed being around others, whether at work or at play. Some of Anne’s favorite pastimes include walking the beach looking for “the perfect shell,” listening to her favorite records, including the “Happiest Girl in the whole USA” by Donna Fargo and “Moody Blue” by Elvis Presley. But most of all, she enjoyed journaling, and studying her Bible. Anne would set her clock to watch her favorite teacher, Rev. Charles Stanley, each Sunday. Not only did Anne love The Lord, she also had a generous and giving heart and enjoyed supporting Saint Joseph’s Indian school in South Dakota. Anne’s favorite holiday has always been Christmas, and she emphasized the celebration of Jesus’ birthday. Each Christmas she decorated her home beautifully, turned on the Christmas music, and warmed the pre-ordered Publix ham in the oven.
Friends and family alike will forever recall Anne with fondness and love. She will be long remembered for her love of tradition, boldness, incredible attention to detail, and thorough embodiment of Southern culture.
Anne will be laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Thomasville, Georgia. In lieu of flowers please consider making a memorial donation in honor of Anne Garrett to Saint Joseph’s Indian school in South Dakota in support of the Lakota (Sioux) children. ( www.stjo.org/flowers or by phone at 1-855-777-3433) Anne’s memorial service will be announced at a later date.
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