Phyllis Weyer Garriss

1923 - 2023

Phyllis Weyer Garriss
December 25, 1923 - July 16, 2023
Raleigh, North Carolina - Phyllis Weyer Garriss, 99, was born on Christmas Day, 1923 in Hastings, Nebraska, and died peacefully on Sunday, July 16, 2023, at home in Raleigh, NC surrounded by family and dear friends. She was the daughter of Frank Elmer Weyer and Mabelle Carey Weyer of Hastings, Nebraska.
Because both of her parents were educators, Phyllis and her two older sisters grew up with a lifelong and insatiable desire to learn. Phyllis attended Hastings College where she double majored in Violin Performance and Music Education. She earned her Master of Music in Theory with a concentration in Violin from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY studying violin with Millard Taylor. Her other instructors included Roman Totenburg and Andre deRibeaupierre.
After Eastman, Phyllis held teaching positions at DePauw University, Ball State University and Meredith College in Raleigh, NC where she taught for 65 years. In 1979 Phyllis founded and directed The Lamar Stringfield Music Camp to provide public school string students in all income brackets an opportunity to learn from nationally acclaimed string pedagogues. After 44 years, the camp continues to inspire countless children.
Phyllis served on numerous boards and belonged to many national musical organizations. She was a lifetime member of The American String Teachers Association and served as its first Corresponding Secretary and Assistant Editor. Locally, she helped formulate The Friends of the College Concert Series (NCSU) and was a charter member of NC Chapter I of P.E.O.
Over the years Phyllis was the recipient of several awards some of which were presented by ASTA, MENC, MTNA, and the City of Raleigh Arts Commission. In 2017 she was the first recipient of the North Carolina Symphony Lifetime Achievement Award.
Phyllis is predeceased by her loving husband, William Philip Garriss.
She is survived by her son, Daniel Garriss (wife, Sue), daughter, Meredith Cooper (husband, Pell), daughter, Margaret Garriss, and granddaughter, Marelle Cooper. She leaves behind many cherished students, friends and extended family members.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 1:00pm at First Presbyterian Church on Salisbury Street, Raleigh NC. The family will receive friends at the church following the service. The burial will be private.
A subsequent video recording of the service will be available on the Brown-Wynne website.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Lamar Stringfield Music Camp, P.O. Box 33489 Raleigh, NC 27636, or to First Presbyterian Church, 112 South Salisbury St. Raleigh, NC 27601.
Service arrangements are provided by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St. Raleigh, NC 27605.