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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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a close with the death of Brother Reginald Garrett of Tyler on |
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January 17, 2025, at the age of 75; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Longview on September 19, 1949, Reginald |
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Garrett was the son of David and Callie Garrett and grew up with the |
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companionship of three siblings, Clemogene, Hattie, and David; |
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while attending Mary C. Womack High School, he starred on the |
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football team and participated in marching band and school plays; |
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after graduating in 1967, he went on to receive bachelor's and |
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master's degrees from Prairie View A&M University, where he became |
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a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc.; in addition to his pastoral |
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duties, he worked for Ford Motor Company, ARCO Oil & Gas, the UT |
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Health Center, and Trinity Mother Frances Health System; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Garrett earned a doctorate from Mt. Hope College |
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and Theological Seminary and a degree from Commonwealth Institute |
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of Funeral Service; in 1986, he became senior pastor at St. James |
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CME Church, and in 2002, he founded New Days Community Church; he |
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dedicated over five decades of his life to the pastorate, and he was |
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a source of spiritual guidance to many people; he also benefited the |
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wider community by serving on the Tyler City Council and as mayor |
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pro tem and further gave of his time and talents to PATH, Hospice of |
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East Texas, the American Red Cross, the East Texas Communities |
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Foundation, and the Half Cent Sales Tax committee; moreover, he was |
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appointed by Governor Ann Richards to the Texas Board on Aging; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Brother Garrett benefited from |
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the love and support of his wife, Loreita; he was the proud father |
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of four children, Reginald, Brian, Regina, and Kevin, and with the |
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passing years, his cherished family grew to include nine |
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grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, The life of Reginald Garrett stands as an inspiring |
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example of service to others, and his contributions will long |
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resonate in the Tyler community; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature |
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hereby pay tribute to the memory of Brother Reginald Garrett and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, |
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Loreita Garrett; to his sons, Reginald Garrett II and his wife, |
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Carla, and Brian Garrett Sr. and his wife, Talonda; to his daughter, |
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Regina Lomax; to his sisters, Clemogene Garrett Wilson and her |
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husband, Curtis, and Hattie Garrett Newhouse and her husband, |
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Lucious; to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and to his |
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other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of Reginald Garrett. |