Garrett to celebrate 85th birthday

Ida Belle Raby Garrett will celebrate her 85th birthday on April 6.

Ida Belle Raby Garrett

Ida Belle Raby Garrett in her high school senior portrait

Her family will honor her special day with a celebration from 2 to 4 p.m. April 7 in South Harriman Baptist Church.

All relatives and friends are invited to attend.

The first of five children, Garrett was born April 6, 1927, and spent the first years of her life in Paint Rock.

She was 9 when her father died, and the family moved to South Harriman, where she attended South Harriman Elementary School and graduated from Harriman High School.

She began working at Harriman Hosiery Mill between her junior and senior year of high school and was employed there for 31 years.

While working there, she met Floyd Eugene Garrett of Sunbright, and the couple were married when she was 19.

The Garretts’ three children and spouses are Ina Sue Garrett Webb and James Larry Webb, Larry Eugene and Debby Garrett, and James Lloyd and Anna Garrett.

Garrett also has five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, with another on the way.

She has always loved learning and studied accounting at Roane State Community College after her children were grown. After that, she enjoyed working and managing real estate for 17 years.

Garrett is described by her family as someone who loves being with people and working outside.

The thing most precious to her, the family said, is her Lord Jesus Christ.

At age 10, Garrett began her personal relationship with Him and accepted Him as her personal Savior during a church service at South Harriman Baptist Church.