Flora Garrard

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Flora Garrard, 96, of Charleston, formerly of Parma, Mo., died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo.

She was born June 3, 1911, in Phil Campbell, Ala., daughter of Thomas Eason and Kate Moriah Howard Faulkner. She and Ester Wallace Garrard were married in 1928. He died May 16, 1965.

Garrard moved from Alabama to New Madrid County and then to Parma in the early 1950s. She was Parma city collector eight years, served on the board of Area Agency on Aging, and had been a clerk at grocery and clothing stores.

She attended Vaughan School of Music in Laurenceburg, Tenn., and sang with the gospel group The McDonalds. She had lived in Charleston since 1999 and was a member of First Baptist Church.

Survivors include a son, Mike Garrard of Charleston; four daughters, Tomye Campbell of Oran, Mo., Sheilah Garrard of Tucson, Ariz., Donnah Sherwood of Mer Rouge, La., Delilah Patrick of Festus, Mo.; 17 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son, three brothers and two sisters.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at McMikle Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Charleston, with the Revs. Gerald Collier and Michael Brewer officiating. Burial will be in Parma City Cemetery.