Mrs. Mary Bell Sawyer Garris, 87, peacefully joined her heavenly father on January 13, 2014. She was born on August 7, 1926 in Marion, SC and was educated in Marion County Schools.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2014 at 2:00 pm at Bear Swamp Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Bear Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery. The family received friends on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Cooke Funeral Home of Lake View.
Mary Bell worked in retail and she operated Garris Furniture in Lake View, SC with her late husband for 32 years. She spent many years as a member of her beloved Bear Swamp Baptist Church where she was a church leader and Sunday School teacher. After retirement, she spent her time being an inspiration and radiant Christian example for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her love and trust in the Lord was an inspiration to everyone that was blessed to be part of her world.
Mrs. Garris is survived by 2 daughters, Linda Jones (Gary) of Florence and Gloria Kasler (Tom) of Florence and Myrtle Beach; 1 sister, Bertha Harrelson of Sumter; 3 granddaughters, Shannon, Tiffany & Babbette; One grandson, Raymond; 13 great grandchildren, C.J., Mason, Dylan, Hunter, Blakley, Alex, Ashton, Dalton, Hilton, Brighton, Emma, Kelsie, and Kaleb.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lonnie and Nina Sawyer; her husband, Raymond; her son, Raymond (Buster); and granddaughter Brandy.
Her mother passed away with Mrs.Mary Bell at the tender age of 15, she was blessed to have 7 half-brothers and sisters after her father remarried.
