Janice Garrard

Janice Garrard, 69, of Hickory, North Carolina, died Monday, the morning of December 11, 2017 at her home. She was born July 14, 1948 in Washington, Georgia, to the late Rev. William R. Garrard, Sr. and Guinelle Cooper Garrard, who survives and resides in Hickory. As the daughter of a United Methodist pastor she grew up in Northeast Georgia and North Carolina, including five years as a missionary family in Vieques, Puerto Rico. Also surviving are her brother Rev. William R. Garrard, Jr. (retired) of Hickory and his wife Frances Hutcheson Garrard, sister Jill Garrard Hicks and her husband David Hicks of Waterdown, Ontario, Canada, brother John C. Garrard and his wife Regina Gardner Garrard of Augusta, Georgia, eight nieces and nephews, and five great nieces and nephews. Janice had degrees from Young Harris College and LaGrange College and attended the University of Georgia toward a Masters of Education. She was a teacher of children and a missionary to the Latino community. Although she never had children of her own, she loved to shape and mold children as a teacher of all age levels during her 30-year teaching career for grades K through 12. She primarily taught elementary age children in Clayton and Augusta, Georgia and Puerto Rico, as well as English as a Second Language. She was a passionate and dedicated advocate for Latino students and their families. She was a missionary for 9 years, with Mercy Ships, a global charity providing medical care via ships as mobile hospitals, serving as an advance team leader in many countries in Central America and the Caribbean (Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras). Being fluent in Spanish, Janice’s role was preparing communities in advance of the arrival of the ship to offer medical help and other aid, as well as providing translation services for the clinical teams. Janice retired to Hickory in 2008 to offer support for her aging parents. She served faithfully at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church leading the weekly prayer ministry. She was a spiritual mentor, friend, and leader with the Hispanic congregation, leading a weekly Bible study in her home and preaching in the Spanish worship services. She was also a founding leader of the “Sisters”, a woman’s weekly intentional small group. Janice made numerous mission trips in support of St. Luke’s mission initiatives in Nicaragua and brought many to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Janice was a selfless, willing servant of the Lord and a powerful prayer warrior for many on a daily basis. Her life was dedicated to His service through her love of family, her students, and her brothers and sisters in the Latino community. It was her time for the Lord to call her Home. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, December 16 at St. Lukes United Methodist Church in Hickory. Family may be greeted after the service. A funeral service will held at 2:00pm, Sunday, December 17 at Smyrna United Methodist Church in Washington, Ga. A viewing will precede the service at 1:30 pm. Memorial donations may be made to St. Lukes United Methodist Church, 52 16th Avenue NW, Hickory, NC 28601 for either the Hispanic Ministry or the Nicaragua Mission. Bass-Smith Funeral Home in Hickory is serving the family of Janice Garrard. Hopkins Funeral Home in Washington, GA is in charge of local arrangements.