9/18/2017
The Reverand Doctor Langdon H. Garrison, Jr. departed this life on September 18, 2017 and joined those of his family and friends who preceded him in the great life beyond. Born in Mobile July 19, 1930, to Langdon H. Garrison, Sr. (Babe) and Lena Mae Holland Garrison. Much of his life was spent in the Mobile area. He attended public schools in Mobile. Graduating from Murphy High School in 1947 where he was the president of his senior class.
Feeling the call to preach at an early age, he attended Asbury College, a small Christian college in Wilmore, Kentucky and seminary at Emory University, in preparation for answering the Call. While serving on the Board of Trustees at Huntingdon College, he was awarded the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.
Ordained into the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference he served the following churches: Loachapoka, Theodore where he was the first full time pastor, Associate Pastor at Saint Francis Street United Methodist Church, First United Methodist Church of Phenix City, DeFuniak Springs United Methodist Church, Spring Hill Avenue United Methodist Church in Mobile for 12 years, First United Methodist Church in Panama City. He served as District Superintendent of two Districts: Marianna-Panama City and Pensacola. His peers elected him 4 times as a delegate to General Conference. This provided him opportunities to serve on several General Boards and Agencies.
He married Billie Jean Retherford on September 1, 1951. Their marriage was blessed with 2 children, 5 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
He retired in 1996. After living in parsonages during the years of active ministry, he and his wife moved into their "own" home in Montrose until October 2014 when they moved into Westminster Village in Spanish Fort where his wife continues to reside.
He is survived by his wife, Billie, of 66 years. Children: Angela Wilkerson (Rodney) and Langdon Howard Garrison III (Angela). Grandchildren: Daphne Wilkerson Locklar (Rusty), Langdon Howard Garrison IV (Bonnie), Abigail Garrison Pridgeon (Jeremy), Carrianne Garrison and Alexander Clement Garrison (Brittany). Great-Grandchildren: Langdon Howard Garrison V (Jack), Alexis Pridgeon, Addison Pridgeon and Josie Favre. Two brothers: Donald Garrison of Sherwood, Arkansas and Wayne Garrison of Foley.
Funeral Service will be held Thursday, 21 September, at Spring Hill Avenue United Methodist Church, Mobile. Visitation will begin at 1:00 followed by the funeral at 2:00. Interment will be at Mobile Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Langdon Garrison Ministerial Scholarship Fund in care of the United Methodist Foundation, PO Box 8066, Dothan, AL 36304. Arrangements under the direction of Radney Funeral Home-Mobile, Mobile, AL.