William W.E. "Bill" Garrison, Jr.

Raleigh- William Ernest Garrison, Jr. was born on March 12,1932 to William Ernest Garrison, Sr., and Nettie Malvena Hovis, in Lincolnton, NC. Growing up on Main Street in Lincolnton, he enjoyed band, football, cars and became an Eagle Scout. His high school nickname was Willie Bill. His high school motto was “Worry and I have never met.” Living across the street from the Baptist church, the family was involved in many aspects of the church. It was also where he met his future bride, Colleen Buff. They would marry on February 10, 1951. Bill joined the Army in November of 1952, seeing active duty in the Korean war. After spending two years on active duty, Bill came home and enrolled in State College. (For the young whipper snappers, that is North Carolina State University to you) in the fall of 1954. In the spring of 1955, Colleen joined him in the College of Engineering. Like most everything he did, he did with Colleen and in May of 1958, they graduated together in Civil Engineering. After a short time working in various jobs, they started W. E. Garrison Grading Co. The business only lasted a short sixty years. They were involved in many projects in and around the Raleigh area. Some of the jobs they worked on were the State of North Carolina Albemarle building in downtown Raleigh, the grading for the creation of the Fayetteville Street mall, various water treatment facilities in and around Wake County, boat ramps on Falls Lake and B. Everette Jordan Lake, and, of course, they had to help shape their alma mater by doing the first grading on NC State’s Centennial Campus.

His love of cars never wavered, and he and Colleen joined the Kaiser Frazier car club. They were fortunate to go to the yearly conventions for 20 years, spending time or driving through every continental state plus a short drive into Canada and Mexico.

The church had always been an important part of his life. He answered the call to help plan and establish a second Baptist church in the Garner area, Aversboro Road Baptist Church. The church which this year celebrated its 52nd anniversary. Bill started in the church from the ground up, literally. He led the survey crew that marked the foundations of the church. Their company also did the grading for the church. Throughout the years, he was on the planning committee, he was a Sunday school teacher, a Deacon, many times, and any place he felt he could help. He had much joy with birthday celebrations and other outings with his children and grandchildren including N.C. State football games.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his brothers Ernest William, Robert Lee, David Ray and his sisters Bette Rose Morris and Mary Evelyn Allen and his infant children Sarah Therese and Stephen Thomas.

He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Colleen, his daughter Rebecca Tiffany, and sons Mark and wife Sue Ellen and Billy and wife Pat. He is also survived by his grandchildren Clay, Holly, Cheyanne, Wesley, David and Dillon Garrison, and Will, Miranda and Jack Tiffany.

Flowers are welcomed or memorial contributions made to Aversboro Road Baptist Church Memorial Fund, 1600 Aversboro Road, Garner, NC 27529 or Hospice Home-Transitions Life Care, 200 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.