Clifford Talmadge Garrison

Clifford Talmadge Garrison, of Gainesville, GA, passed away recently from natural causes. Talmadge, or "T" as he was known to his friends, was born on December 16, 1932, in the New Holland community. He worked for over thirty-five years for the First National Bank of Gainesville.

Talmadge graduated from Airline High School, took a job in the New Holland mill, and worked there until 1953 when he entered the U. S. Army. He served in the European Command in Germany as a helicopter specialist and a Light Aircraft Crew Chief and received the National Defense, European Occupation, and Expert Rifle Awards.

Upon returning to the US, he worked at Lockheed Aircraft in Marietta while earning his Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Georgia. He subsequently obtained an advanced degree in banking from the University of Wisconsin. He left Lockheed for an accounting position with Westinghouse and then joined the Leece-Neville Company in Gainesville as manager of personnel and accounting. He began his long career at the First National Bank in 1963, where he eventually rose to Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and corporate Secretary and Treasurer. He arranged the bank's several acquisitions of local banks and then helped complete First National's merger with Regions Financial. After retiring from Regions, he studied for and passed the CPA exam, just to show that he could.

Talmadge was married to the late Patricia Jeannine Williamson for 60 years. Talmadge and Jeannine raised their two children, Timothy Alan and Patricia Ann, in Gainesville. They attended Lakewood Baptist Church, where Talmadge served as a deacon and a member of the finance committee. He held leadership positions with the Jaycees, the Toastmasters, and the Civitan Club, and sang tenor with the Gainesville Chorale and in church quartets. He was a faithful supporter of Eagle Ranch, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, and the University of Georgia. He was an avid golfer, investor, and fan of the Georgia Bulldogs.

Talmadge was predeceased by Jeannine; his parents, James Howard and Lenora Free Garrison; sisters Ruth Garrison Healan and Doris Garrison Edge, and brothers Raymond Garrison and Charles Garrison.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Timothy Alan Garrison and Cindy Lamb Garrison, and grandson Samuel Wyatt Garrison and his spouse, Lauren Johnnie Garrison; daughter and son-in-law Patricia Garrison Ferrell and Scot Ferrell, and grandsons Patric Alan Scott and Garrison Rowan Scott; sister Brenda Forrester and brothers Edd Garrison and Gary Garrison; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Johnny and Brenda Williamson; brother-in-law Dwight Williamson; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law LaClita Williamson Robson and Milton Robson; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Tim and Patricia express their deep appreciation to Lauren Gibson, Valerie Shadburn, Nyn Sagesse, Carline Sarette, and Christopher Rallos for their kindness during Talmadge's final days at the Celebration Village Forsyth Assisted Living facility.

The family will hold a memorial service at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the VFW Department of Georgia State Commander Bill Miles' Special Project for PTSD/TBI. Condolences may be shared at http://www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.