Johnette Garrett

Beloved sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, Johnette Garrett died Friday, November 2, 2023, at the age of 84.

Johnette was born on August 25, 1939, in Dalark, Arkansas, to John D. Wilkins and Ruby Williams Wilkins.  She graduated from Sparkman High School in 1957, and she married Jim Shirron soon after in 1958.  Her daughter, Debra Kay, was born August 28, 1959.  Jim and Johnette lived in several states as Jim’s job took them.  Upon Jim’s accidental death in 1969, Debbie and Johnette moved back to Sparkman, Arkansas, to be near family.

Johnette spent many years as the office manager for Thermogas in Arkadelphia.  On November 17, 1977, she started a new chapter in life when she married Sammie Dale Garrett.  She also gained two stepsons, Randy and Allen.  It wasn’t long until she retired from Thermogas as she looked forward to time with family.  However, after working so many years, retirement just wasn’t for her.  She started working again at Ray White Lumber Company, and she remained there for decades.

In 2016, Sammy’s death left her widowed for a second time.  She remained surrounded by beloved community and family.  There was hardly a person in town who hadn’t enjoyed her pies and cakes, and her family joked that they couldn’t travel anywhere without someone knowing Johnette.  In her mind, a checkout line was always an opportunity to make a new friend.  In 2021, she moved to Texas to live with Debbie and her family, but she made frequent visits back to Sparkman.  She was a proud member of First Baptist Church of Sparkman.

Johnette is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Wayne and Barbara Wilkins of Sparkman and a sister, Phyllis Ramsay of Holly Springs, as well as their children, two nieces and two nephews.  She found endless joy in her children, who include daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Matthew Greene of Fort Worth, Texas, her stepson and his wife, Allen and Brenda Garrett of Sparkman and her stepson and his wife, Randy and Shelia Garrett of Harmony Grove.  She doted on five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, November 7^th, 2023, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Ruggles Wilcox Funeral Home in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. 

Johnette’s funereal service will be held Wednesday, November 8^th, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church-Sparkman.

Interment will follow at Delamar Cemetery in Manning, Arkansas.

Pallbearers will be Corey Ramsay, Jeff McJunkins, Bob Porter, Brad Wilkins, Alan Garrett and Sam Garrett.

Arrangements are entrusted to Ruggles Wilcox Funeral Home, 517 Clay Street, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71923.