Minnie Mae Thomas Johnson Garris, 101

DOVER - Minnie Mae Thomas Johnson Garris, of Dover, entered into eternal life on Friday, July 31, 2009, at Courtland Manor Nursing Home. She was 101. Mrs. Garris was born on Sept. 13, 1907, in Millington, Md., the daughter of Herman Thomas, Sr. and Sarah "Sadie" Thomas. She was a nanny for the Bean Family (Wilmington) for many years. She later relocated to Winston Salem, N.C., where she met and married Joseph Nelson Garris. Mrs. Garris accepted the Lord as her personal Savior at a young age. She also accepted the call to Evangelism and served at various churches under the umbrella of Mt. Sinai Holy Church of America. Mother Garris, as she was fondly referred to, was affiliated with Miracle Temple Holiness Church in High Point, N.C. She later joined Mount Calvary Holiness Church where Ruling Elder Wardlow Frazier was the pastor. She was a faithful member and served in the following capacities: Church mother, Minister and Sunday School Teacher. She also belonged to the Holiness Church of God, Inc., and served as Vice President of the District Missionary Society (and served well). She was a great Missionary and loved to help people. After her husband passed in 1995, Mother Garris relocated to Wilmington. She joined Bethel Pentecostal Church under the leadership of Rev. Odell White. She was a faithful member and served to the best of her ability until her health failed. During her latter years, she moved to Dover. She then became an associate member of Mt. Plymouth A.M.E. Church under the leadership of Rev. Sonja L. Ayers and Community Baptist Church, under the leadership of her nephew, Rev. William J. Ward, Jr. Mother Garris loved God with all her heart, mind and strength. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joseph Nelson Garris; her step-daughter, Mary Lee Compton; and sisters, Edna Ross, Ada Blackston, Rev. Bermuda S. Ward and June Anderson (whom she raised.) Mother Garris leaves to cherish her memory, one grandson, Sterling Garris; two nieces who served as her caregivers, Jeralin W. Rochester and her husband Robert of Barclay, Md., and Lisa W. Powell and her husband Charles of Harrington; special friends and caregivers, Sedrick and Eunice Fountain of Smyrna; special niece, Marie Brooks of Salem, N.J.; three step-daughters, Rosa Garris-Johnson, Josephine Garris-Samuel, and Essie Mae Williams, all of North Carolina; two special nephews, Bishop George Poindexter of Wilmington, and Rev. William J. Ward, Jr. and his wife Ursula of Barclay, Md, and a host of other nieces, nephews, her church family and friends. A celebration of Mother Garris' life will take place at 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 8, at Community Baptist Church, Barclay, Md. Friends may call from 9 to 11 a.m. There will also be a viewing from 6 to 8 p.m., Aug. 7, at Bennie Smith Funeral Home 717 W. Division Street, Dover. Interment will be at Lakeside Cemetery, Dover.