Una Garrett

Una Hudson Garrett, age 94 died on August 19, 2015. Mrs. Garrett was retired from Hayes Aircraft Corp. She was a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Odenville and a former member of Roebuck Park Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, William Lewis Garrett and Rebecca Elizabeth Holmes Garrett; her first husband, Jesse John Hudson, and her second, husband Daniel J. Garrett, Sr.; one brother, six sisters, one half-sister, and three half-brothers. She is survived by her sons, Wayne Hudson (Sue) and Larry Hudson (Brenda); granddaughters: Deborah Davis, Karen Sullivan (Matt), Michelle O'Brien (Tom) Dawn Williams (Philip), and Elise Stearns (Scott); eight great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and stepsons, Cary Garrett Gregory Garrett (Kenna), and Kym Garrett (Andre); one grandchild and one great grandchild from the Daniel J. Garrett, Sr. family. The family wishes to thank the staff of St. Martin's in the Pines for their care over the last few years and the staff at Optum Hospice for their care over the last few days. Visitation will be held on Monday, August 24, 2015 from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home with funeral service following immediately Burial will follow at Jefferson Memorial Gardens. Reverend Chris Burns will officiate over the service. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Bethel Baptist Church, 8332 Moody Parkway, Odenville, AL 35120. Jefferson Memorial in Trussville is directing.

More about Una Muriel ("Tootsie" or "Toots") Hudson Garrett

Great Grandparents: Joel A. Garrett (b. 1819 maybe Laurens Co. SC, d. 7/1-3/1863 Vicksburg Miss)

m. 4/6/1843 to Nancy E Cowan (b. 1820 maybe Laurens Co. SC, d. 1897/8)

Enlisted 3/20/1862 as a Private in the infantry of the 30th Alabama Regimental Unit, Company H

Believed to have been injured or died along with his oldest son, Jourdan, at the battle of Vicksburg

Second child was John Harrison "Jack" Garrett who also is believed to have been at the battle of Vicksburg

Grandparents: John Harrison "Jack" Garrett (b.7/17/1847, d. 10/2/1923)

m. 10/17/1865 to Pollie Turner (b. 7/10/1843, d. 7/1/1906)

Jack moved from St. Clair Co. to Shelby Co. around Calcis

Second child was William Lewis Garrett

Other grandparents were the parents of Rebecca Holmes: John Holmes and Virginia (Martin or Rhinhart)

Parents: William Lewis "Will" Garrett (b. 7/24/1871, d. 11/23/1946)

m. 8/5/1894 to Dora Ann Lowe (b. 6/6/1874, d. 8/28/1910)

m. 1/18/1911 to Rebecca Elizabeth "Becky" Holmes (b. 2/20/1883, d. 8/27/1963)

Una Muriel Garrett was the seventh child of Will & Becky.

As a child, Una's family always called her by her nickname Tootsie, or Toots. Although Jesse called her Toots, his family called her Una. She was also called Una by some co-workers at Hayes, by Donna & Doc, Dan, and her many friends around Moody and St. Martins in the Pines.

Una was born to William Lewis Garrett and Rebecca Holmes Garrett on 12/12/1920 in Calcis, Alabama, in a front bedroom at the Garrett Place on what is now Hwy 57. Will was a strong and industrious man. He farmed, ran a saw mill, was an expert woodsman, and acted as the weatherman and the veterinarian for the community. However, he never had any interest in owning a home, and never did. Becky's childhood home was on what is now Hwy 231 not far from Calcis. Becky married Will after her father had driven away the man she had earlier fallen in love with. Becky was a loving and industrious mother who raised eight children of her own, and four more born to Will's first wife. She was an excellent seamstress, making most of the family clothes, a wonderful cook, and she employed many old home remedies in keeping the family healthy or treating sickness or injuries.

Una's sisters and brother were: Wilma (b. 11/12//1911, d. 8/24/1972), Mae Ola (b. 11/23/1912), Alma (b. 4/18/1915), Ethel (b. 2/20/1916), Lois (b. 7/8/1919), Lora (b. 7/8/1919) and Herbert (b. 10/26/1923).

She also had these half brothers & sisters by William Lewis Garrett and his first wife Dora Ann Lowe: Mel (7/8/1895-4/12/1949), Ed (1/19/1898-2/?/1976 or age 76), Oscar (7/30/1904-9/24/1931), and Annie Belle (b. 7/13/1907).

Una started first grade at age 6 around January, 1927. At this time her brothers & sisters were: Mel-31, Ed-29, Oscar-22, Annie Belle-19, Wilma-16, Mae Ola-14, Alma-11, Ethel-10, Lois & Lora-7, and Herbert-3. She attended Calcis School which was a 2-room school. One room for Grades 1-3 and the other for grades 4-6. Teachers were Miss Pernie Heath and the Cosper sisters. Will Garrett built a house for Miss Heath across the road from the school. This became the house that Vera & Aubrey Justice lived in. After the 6th grade in Calcis, children went to Vincent High for grades 7-12. Una, however, had to drop out while in the 8th grade, around 1935, because the family could not afford the books.

Una learned to swim at a place called Jackson Lake just off of Justice Road somewhere south of Hwy 25.

Around 1931, when Una was 10, the family moved to the Davis Place in New London and started attending school in New London. The children did not like this school and would get Herbert to pretend he was sick and they would all go home with him. After about 1 year Will agreed to let the children return to the Calcis School. Will would have to get them across Kelly Creek each morning where they would walk to the Clinkscales Place to ride the school bus, driven by a Clinkscales, to and from school, then cross the creek again on the way home each afternoon. Around 1933, when Una was 12, the family moved from the Davis Place to the Clinkscales Place. Una remembers pulling Robert around in a wagon and Dean being born while they lived here. Around 1935 the family moved to Dr. Embry's Place on the east side of what is now Hwy 57. After about 1 year they moved to across the road (Hwy 57) to another place owned by Dr. Embry. Una remembers Roosevelt being elected President while here. In 1937 when Una was 16 the family moved back to the Garrett Place in Calcis.

Una and Ethel came to Birmingham and worked at Britlings Cafeteria while staying with Annie Belle. Then Una's mom, Becky, got sick and Una had to return to Calcis. Ethel worked at another restaurant. On New Year's Eve, 12/31/1939, Una, age 19, was visiting Ethel in Birmingham and met Jesse Hudson (b.11/12/05, d. 2/13/85). A few months later on Easter, 3/24/1940, Una and Jesse were married, spent their honeymoon in the same bedroom she was born in at Calcis, then lived in Jesse's house at 974 N. 53rd St. in Woodlawn. While living here, Wayne was born 12/14/1940. Here also, Una became close friends with a border in their house, Anna Schroder and her daughter Pat, and with neighbors, Lucy Lovelady and Pratt Poff. On Mondays Una & Lucy would share Lucy's washing machine to wash clothes and eat toasted peanut butter & marshmallow sandwiches afterwards. Lucy was married to Nix, an upholstery salesman. They had two sons, Donnie and James Ralph, and their daughter, Niki Gayle, was born while they were neighbors. Wayne and James Ralph were playmates. The "Lucy Lilies" flowers we have kept in our family came from bulbs at Lucy's house on 53rd street.

Around 1945 Nix joined the Army. While the Lovelady's were waiting to move to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Jesse & Una sold the house at 974 N. 53rd street and moved in with Wilma & Sam in Calcis. Jesse drove from Calcis to Birmingham each day to work at the Post Office.

In 1946 they moved to East Lake at 8531 8th Ave. North, and Wayne started school at Barrett School. Larry was born 12/30/1946.

In the summer of 1947 they moved to 6219 1st Ave. N. in Woodlawn. Here Una became close friends with neighbor Bernice Shaw. Bernice and Mr. Shaw had two daughters and a younger son, Bobby. Larry and Bobby were playmates. Una and Bernice would let one watch Larry & Bobby while the other went shopping. They made flowers from dyed stockings & copper wire which Larry & Bobby sold for $1 each. The Shaw's moved to Montgomery when Larry was about 5, around 1951. While living at 6219, Wayne & Larry attended Kennedy School and Woodlawn High School. Una was active member of the PTA at Kennedy. Una also sold Avon and "did hair". Three of her hair customers were Ouida Kinsey, Ouida's mom, Kate Blackerby, and Kate's sister, Pratt Poff. Una then went to work at Hayes Aircraft, working for Mr. Rushing, and becoming close friends with Billie Dunn Taylor. When she later went to work for Dr. Hodges, Mr. Rushing arranged to lay her off, rather than let her quit, so she could return to Hayes if she later wanted. Dr. James P. "Doc" Hodges was the family doctor and a close friend of Jesse's. He and Jesse played a lot of gin rummy and were often partners playing in duplicate bridge tournaments. Una left Hayes to work for Dr. Hodges. Here Una became best friends with Doc's nurse and second wife, Donna. Donna became the closest friend Una ever had. While living at 6219, Una loved to play "Rook". At Hayes, she played Rook every day during the 42 minute lunch. She also enjoyed Rook games at Billie Dunn's house or her own house where there was always something good to eat. Rook games often involved Larry and his friends. She enjoyed playing other card games as well as Dominoes. While Una and Jesse lived here Wayne married Sue Parker.

After Jesse retired in 1967, Una and Jesse moved to 389 Glynn Drive in Roebuck. While Una lived here Larry married Brenda Burchfield. Although they had always enjoyed music, Una and Jesse now began singing harmony gospel music with Herbert and Christine and Alma, accompanied by Herbert's guitar. They would perform at churches and nursing homes. Later, Lois joined the group as did Alma's second husband, Howard.

After Jesse died in 1985, Una married Dan Garrett (b. 5/11/24. d. 9/17/2103) on 8/4/88, and they moved to 3915 Valley Bend Drive in Moody. Dan & Una attended Bethel Baptist Church in Moody, and socialized with many of their friends there. They always kept a large vegetable garden at their home.

On 2/16/09 Dan & Una moved to independent living apartment 234 at St. Martin's in the Pines in Birmingham. After Dan died, Una moved to an assisted living apartment at St. Martin's.

Descendants of Una and Jesse are:

Through Wayne and Sue - Deborah, Karen and Michelle

Deborah married Verlon Davis and had sons Nicholas and Zachary.

Nicholas married Ashley Roper and had a son, Carson

Karen married Matt Sullivan and had a daughter, Grace.

Michelle married Tom O'Brien and had daughters Kate, Maggie and Ann.

Through Larry and Brenda - Dawn and Elise

Dawn married Philip Williams and had no children.

Elise married Scott Stearns and had daughters Lauren and Caroline

Una's Stepchildren through Dan Garrett Sr. are:

Daniel Garrett Jr. (deceased) and Marcia (no children)

Cary Garrett (no children)

Gregory Garrett (Kenna) (no children)

Kym Garrett (Andre)

Matthew Garrett (Amanda)

Mattie Garrett