Frances Pittman Garrett

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Mrs. Frances Pittman Garrett of Gautier, MS on May 19, 2024, after prolonged illness. She was born on July 11, 1939, to Mr. Dunaway and Mrs. Hilda Pittman in Wiggins, MS. She was preceded in death by her parents.

 She married Mr. Ephraim Spencer Garrett III (known to family as “Ephie”) on September 11, 1960. They became the proud parents of four wonderful children, Ephraim Garrett IV of Gautier, MS; Valerie Garrett, MD (Ken Cassell, MD) of San Francisco CA, Joseph Garrett (Lorrie) of Dallas TX and David Garrett of Gulfport, MS, and grandparents of Roman, Grayton and Paris of Dallas TX. Frances is also survived by her four sisters, Mary James, Nancy Stuckey, Betty Geotes and Martha Pittman.

Frances was a loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and community member. She was a longstanding member of the Gautier United Methodist Church. She worked for many years as a real estate agent for Coldwell Banker Smith Homes, frequently achieving annual million-dollar seller status. She served the City of Gautier as an election official for several years and loved to see her community at the polls. She was a longstanding member of the Order of the Eastern Star and served as Worthy Matron.

Frances grew up on a dairy farm, and became a gifted seamstress, starting with feed sack fabric in her youth. She sewed her family’s clothes and even made her sister’s wedding dress. Frances also made furniture and with her sisters, established the Little Women’s Woodshop furniture store. She was a great believer in higher education and supported her husband and her children’s achievement of advanced degrees. She took college courses with the goal of graduating as a grandmother before illness interrupted this plan. She loved flowers in all forms and loved gardening. She was an inveterate traveler throughout her adulthood and loved to go to new places and meet new people.

Frances lived a full life, which exemplified grace, dignity, and an abiding kindness. She was loved by many and will be missed.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at The Riemann Family Funeral Home, 11280 Three Rivers Road in Gulfport from 10:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. funeral service.  Interment will follow in Floral Hills Memorial Hill Gardens in Gulfport.