Floy Nell

Hawkins

Garrison

Floy Nell Hawkins Garrison, 71, of Yadkinville, passed away Thursday March 5, 2009 at Forsyth Medical Center. 

She was born July 21, 1937 to John Alvin and Eloise L. Hawkins in Spartanburg, S.C. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 46 years, Glenn Weldon Garrison in 2003; and a brother, Joe E. Hawkins. 

She is survived by three children, Glenn Weldon Garrison Jr., wife, Linda, and grandchildren, Laura and Matthew of Englewood, N.J.; V. Gray Garrison, his wife, Pam, and granddaughters, Brittany, Emma and Madison of Yadkinville; and Nancy J. Garrison of the home; her sisters, Iris H. Keenan of Palm Beach, Fla., Kay Tesh and husband, Butch, of Greensboro, Diane Miura and husband, Sei, of Japan, and Johnnie Pinilis and husband, Dale, of Winston-Salem. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Marilyn H. Wright of Winston-Salem; and brothers-in-law, Alvin Garrison and wife, Martha, of Clemmons, and the Reverend Mervin Garrison and wife, Kay, of Winston-Salem; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Floy Nell lived a happy life.

She attended Fairforest School in Spartanburg, S.C. for 11 years, and was a member of its state championship girls basketball team in 1954.    

Her parents, along with Bill and Ann France, started the races at Bowman Gray Stadium in 1949. 

The Hawkins family spent summers in Winston-Salem, beginning in 1949, before permanently relocating there in 1954. 

She graduated from South Fork High School in Winston-Salem the following year.  She graduated from Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1959. 

She also taught at Spease Elementary School in Winston-Salem in its first year of operation. 

She spent most of her teaching career at the Methodist Children’s Home in Winston-Salem, teaching fourth grade and coaching girls sports. 

Floy Nell moved to Yadkinville in 1968 and started Garrison Realty in Yadkinville in 1970. 

She attended First Baptist Church of Yadkinville, where she taught classes and served in other capacities through the years. 

She served as a trustee at Hoots Memorial Hospital in Yadkinville; on the Yadkin County Recreation Commission and the Yadkin County Planning Board; was a past president of the local Chamber of Commerce; and served on the advisory board of SunTrust Bank.

The family received friends on Saturday, March 7 at Gentry Family Funeral Service.

Her funeral service was held on Sunday, March 8 at the Gentry Family Chapel in Yadkinville. 

Memorials may be made to The Yadkin Arts Council Cultural Arts Center, P.O. Box 667, Yadkinville, N.C. 27055. 

Online condolences may be made to www.gentryfuneralservice.com.