Guinelle Cooper Garrard

Guinelle Cooper Garrard passed into her resurrection life in Jesus Christ on January 15, 2026. She was born on February 23, 1923 in the village of Tignall, Georgia, the fourth of eight children of Lauren Wesley and Lula Bobo Cooper. Growing up in the love of her family and small town life during the poverty of the Great Depression, she learned the values of her faith that ran deep through out her life.

At age sixteen she entered Berry College which was a work college giving her the opportunity for higher education. She met the love of her life William (Bill) Reese Garrard on her first bus ride to Berry. He pursued her over many years during the unsettled time of World War II. She and Bill were married in 1944 and after the war settled in Washington, Georgia joined by their three oldest children.

More than just the traditional housewife, she was supportive of and a partner with Bill as he pursued a call to serve as a United Methodist pastor. In 1956, they became missionaries for five years in Vieques, Puerto Rico where she focused on being sure her children received a quality education including teaching them. Upon returning to the states, their youngest son was born. She was the keystone of family life during several pastorates. Together with Bill in 1968, they founded Covecrest, a Christian Renewal Center in mountains near Tiger, Georgia. There she worked with her husband to create a place of wholeness and grace for many who needed to find their center in God.

Upon leaving Covecrest, she and Bill continued their love affair in retirement. She continued to support countless persons in church and community with affirmation and wisdom. Losing Bill after almost 67 years of marriage, she, alone and then housebound, lived independently until her last week spending her time feeding the wild birds, reading, on her computer, and tending to her dozens of houseplants. And of course, she was always reaching out in love to family and friends far and near.

Guinelle in her almost 103 years lived out her faith by loving every person she met, affirming their uniqueness, value, and worth. In the many places she lived, she always created beauty with her many house plants and collections of curios. Every person who met her found her joy contagious, and her encouragement inspiring. She had an insatiable curiosity about words, people, and the way of faith. Genuine joy and laugher were her hallmarks. She found her strength in facing many challenges, including the loss of two of her children, by relying on the light of Christ in her life.

Guinelle is survived by her son, William (Bill) Garrard, Jr. (Frances) and her daughter Jill Garrard Hicks (David, deceased). She was preceded in death by her daughter Janice Garrard and son John Charles Garrard (Regina). She was loved by her grandchildren, Faith Hicks (Tim), Sarah Grimm (Matt), Noah Hicks (Whitney), Will Garrard (Christina), Leah Garrard (Dave), Nathan Hicks, Robin Hicks, and Zach Garrard; and by her great-grandchildren, Hannah, Clara, and Luke Grimm, and Lydia and Alexander Hicks.

A memorial service will be held in the chapel at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Hickory, NC at 3:00 pm on January 24 th led by Rev. Beth Osbahr and Rev. Aryn Williams. A visitation with the family will follow the service. A service with interment will be held at Smyrna Community Church in Washington, GA on February 21st led by Rev. William R. Garrard, Jr.

Donations in her memory may be given to Nicaragua Mission; St. Luke’s United Methodist Church 54 16 th Avenue NE; Hickory, NC 28601 and Attn: In Memory of Guinelle Garrard; A Place to Dream; The Family YMCA of Greater Augusta; 1058 Claussen Rd.; Augusta, GA. 30907; https://thefamilyy.org/a-place-to-dream/

Please sign the online guestbook at www.caringcremations.net. The Garrard family has entrusted arrangements to Caring Cremations Life Celebrations and Funerals at 828-855-3350.