Crash kills women active in Kansas City community

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A crash on Interstate 70 killed four members of a family, sending shock waves through the local labor and education communities.

Among the dead were Beverly Garrett, head of the local federal government employees union and a United Way board member, and her niece, Anita Gibbs, principal of Askew Elementary School. Also killed in the crumpled Ford 500 were Garrett's mother, Beulah Hunter, and aunt, Elois Jeans.

A truck driver, George Albright, 61, of Clarksville, Tenn., was charged Friday with four counts of second-degree involuntary manslaughter for the crash Thursday about 30 miles east of Columbia. Albright was freed Friday after posting bond at the Callaway County Jail, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Jason Garrett, Garrett's son, called the four women giving people who would bend over backward for those in need.

"I don't think this family could ask for better role models," Garrett said.

They were headed to Kankakee, Ill., for a family wedding anniversary when the crash occurred. Word of the fatal wreck began trickling into Kansas City on Thursday night.

Beverly Garrett, 57, served as president of Local 1336 of the American Federation of Government Employees. She also served on the local AFL-CIO's Labor Council.

"She was knowledgeable; she was committed; she was as tough as she needed to be," said Louie Wright, president of the local firefighters' union. "She will be greatly missed by the labor community."

Federal employee

Garrett had worked for the federal government for more than 30 years, said Local 1336 official Peter Shields. She also worked extensively with the United Way. According to the organization, she was a board member for five years.

In a statement, United Way Chairman Robert C. Levy praised Garrett's service.

"When we needed to bring people together, whether it was across races, classes, labor-management or other divides, we went to Beverly," Levy said. "We all trusted her. Our community has lost a friend, a leader and a healer."

Anita Gibbs, Garrett's niece, was a 32-year employee of the Kansas City School District. Gibbs had been principal of Askew Elementary since 2000.

Standing outside Askew on Friday, outgoing district Superintendent Bernard Taylor called Gibbs "a consummate person; she's well-respected, well-liked. She was the type of principal we want all our principals to be."

Gibbs, 55, planned to retire in 2007 and travel, said Roy Gibbs Jr., her husband of 27 years. "We were going to go on a cruise on our 30th anniversary, somewhere in the Caribbean."