Elaine Taylor Garrison

Elaine Taylor Garrison, age 75, of Athens, GA passed away Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at her home. Elaine was born January 24, 1950 in Toccoa, Georgia, the fifth of five children to Henry Dillard Taylor III and Ellie Jay Shirley Taylor. Her parents instilled a great work ethic, self confidence and most importantly an unwavering faith in Christ. She remained in the Baptist church throughout her life. Raised on the family's farm, she cultivated quite a green thumb and a strong love for all of God's creatures minus, of course, rodents. She loved her older siblings tremendously as well as the nieces and nephews they gave her. After graduating from Stephens County High School, she studied at West Georgia University before moving to Athens, Georgia .There she took a job at Southern Bell and later AT&T where she later retired. She made lifelong friendships and devoted many hours to various community service efforts through the company's volunteer Pioneers program. Elaine met John J. Garrison in the early 1970s not long after moving to Athens and would marry him in 1978, making the town her forever home. They spent more than 50 years together building their lives and creating their family, son Shannon Garrison, daughter Gail (Paul) Alewine and granddaughters Aidan, Audrey and Addie. Her sweet smile, kind heart and inner strength will be terribly missed by so many. Elaine is preceded in death by her brothers and their wives Henry (Bobbie) Taylor and Harold (June) Taylor. Sisters/brothers-in-law Harold Segars, Gail Murray, Sherry Thomas, Tommy Irby, Sonny Garrison, Sam Young, and Harriet and Grady McCurley. Elaine's sister, Joyce Sheriff, followed her in death four days after Elaine's passing. She is survived by her husband, children, grandchildren, sister, Phyllis (Hubie) Powell, brothers/sisters-in-law, Leonard Sheriff, Billy Ray Thomas, Kay Young, Jenny Irby, Delores and Johnny White, David and Chris Garrison, and Cindy and Jerry Huff. Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, her loving church family and many wonderful friends who became family also survive. Her family wishes to extend their gratitude to all those who spent time sitting with Elaine these past several months and the time spent in prayer for her. The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at Oconee Heights Baptist Church at 3pm with services following at 4:00 pm. In lieu of flowers please consider donating in Elaine's honor to her beloved church, Oconee Heights Baptist Church, 4180 Jefferson Road Athens, GA 30607. Announcement courtesy of Whitlock Mortuary, Funerals and Cremations.