Barbara Lawrence Garside

NORFOLK – Barbara Lawrence Garside, 89, died at her home in Norfolk on July 26, 2024.

Kerry – as she was known to all – was born in 1935 in New York City to Barbara Childs Lawrence and James Freeman Lawrence.

The first of six children, Kerry attended Chapin School and graduated from The Foxcroft School. She went on to graduate from Smith College, and continued to Harvard to receive a Masters in Teaching. She taught at The Elizabeth Morrow School in New Jersey, and The Potomac School in Virginia.

She married Grenville Garside in 1961. Moving to Washington DC in 1968, they lived there for the next 30 years. During that time she raised her three children – Elizabeth, Jonathan and Alexander – and served on several boards.

She devoted 11 years of service to Sheridan School, culminating in leading the board. In 1983 she was recognized for this work by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, the only elementary-school volunteer so honored. She also served on the board of Foxcroft School and as a member of the Parents Council of Washington, a nonprofit addressing problems confronting adolescents. In later D.C. years, she trained as a tutor and worked at Episcopal High School in Virginia teaching study skills and Scholastic Aptitude Test preparation. Kerry and Gren moved full-time to Norfolk in 1998.

Kerry is survived by her three children and their spouses: Betsy Garside and Stephen Warren, Jon and Shauna Garside, and Zang Garside and Nicole Outsen; and her four grandchildren: Charlie, Henry, Finn and Kaya Garside. She is also survived by her siblings Susannah Lawrence Wood and Starling Lawrence, and was predeceased by her husband Gren Garside, sister Jane Lawrence Mali, and brothers Peter and Vint Lawrence.

A memorial service will be held at the Church of Christ Congregational in Norfolk on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. All other services are private.

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to make a donation in Kerry's memory please support the Norfolk Volunteer Ambulance, P.O. Box 399, Norfolk, Connecticut 06058.