Marjorie Wright Garrison

Honey, Mardrann, Aunt Bug…, our beloved Aunt Marjorie Ann Wright Garrison passed away with quiet grace into the arms of Jesus on October 12, 2023, at her home in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, she was a graduate of Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi. She went on to receive her master’s degree in education from Tulane University. She taught the first grade in Jackson and Madison Mississippi for many years.

In 1966 she met and married the love of her life Charles Denby Garrison. They lived on Lake Cavalier and in Jackson, Mississippi finally moving to Pass Christian, Mississippi. Marjorie Ann lived a life of travel and adventure. She and Denby were avid sailors. Weekends were spent on their sailboat and at the Pass Christian Yacht Club in the company of lifelong friends. Their home was a gathering place for family and friends to enjoy impromptu parties, engaging conversation, and views of sunsets over the Gulf. She was active in Trinity Episcopal Church serving on the Altar Guild and as President of the ECW and Martha Guild. She was also President of the Fortnightly Book Club, Secretary of the Pass Christian Historical Society, and member of the Pass Christian Art Association.

Following her husband’s death, she moved to Lafayette, Louisiana where she established herself as Matriarch of her family, sharing her wisdom and demonstrating by example the importance of family. She made those in her family feel special and is a part of who each of them are today. Her animals were also an important part of her life and provided companionship, comfort, and great joy. She personified Southern hospitality and graciousness and was known for her distinctive drawl and signature pearls.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Denby Garrison; her parents, Thomas Excell and Mildred Croxdale Wright; her three sisters, Mary Gowan, Ruth Steele, and Mildred Maley; her precious nieces, Rosemary Gowan Guglielmo and Ann Gowan Turnbow; and her nephew Robert Gerald Maley.

Marjorie is survived by her nieces, Mildred Maley Dodson (Jack), Bess Maley Jung (Robert); nephews, William A. Gowan, Jr., Thomas Maley (Helaine), and Claude Maley (Linda); stepdaughter, Patricia G. Muse (Bill); great nieces, Nicole E. Dodson, Lauren Gowan Dupre, Marjorie G. Lacaillade (Peter), Alicia M. Lawrence (Jason), and Elizabeth G. Picard (Tyron); great nephews, Daniel J Dodson (Courtney), William A. Gowan, III (Nicci), James T. Guglielmo, Jr. (Regine), Robbie Jung (Kirsten), Christian Jung (Christine), James Collin Maley (Stephanie), Thomas Bradford Maley (Olivia), Claude Maley III, Guy N. Turnbow III, and Andrew Wright Gowan Turnbow; as well as great great nieces and nephews. 

The family wishes to thank Ms. Garrison’s special friends and caregivers Patricia and Lawrence Celestine, Dora Armstrong, Mia Fontenot, Elisha Fontenot, Irene Evans, Ebony Berry, and the caring and compassionate caregivers of Heart of Hospice. 

Visitation will be on Wednesday October 18, 2023, beginning at 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in Pass Christian, Mississippi. Reverend Kyle Bennett will preside. 

Memorial donations may be made to Acadiana Animal Aid through their website at www.acadianaanimalaid.org, or to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 400 Camellia Boulevard, Lafayette, Louisiana, 70503 or by visiting their website at www.saintbarnabas.us.

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Pass Christian, is serving the family.