John Walter Garrard, 88, of Isola, passed away peacefully Sunday, May 28, 2017 at his home with his family by his side.

Mr. Garrard was born December 27, 1928 in Isola, and was the son of William Hugh Garrard Sr. and Effie Hughes Garrard. He served his country in the United States Air Force from 1951 until 1955, and subsequently served as a pilot in the Air Force Reserves. Mr. Garrard married Lady Carolyn Taylor on September 3, 1957, and together they made their home in Isola. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Mississippi State University in 1959 where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Mr. Garrard earned his Juris Doctorate degree from Jackson School of Law in 1966. Mr. Garrard had a long and successful career practicing law as a partner of Garrard and Trotter. He was a member of the Mississippi Bar Association as well as the Mississippi Prosecutors Association. He also served as president of the Humphreys County Bar Association and was the Humphreys County Youth Court attorney. Mr. Garrard was a long serving member of the board of trustees of Mississippi Delta Community College. He had a lifetime of service to Isola United Methodist Church, and at its decommissioning oversaw its transfer to Pilgrim Rest M.B. Church. He was a member of Inverness United Methodist Church at the time of his death. He was a Master Gardener, a wonderful chef and a long standing member of the fraternity of pilots in the Mississippi Delta.

Mr. Garrard was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, William Hugh Garrard, Jr., and Ralph Milton Garrard.

He leaves his wife of 59 years, Carolyn Garrard of Isola; two daughters, Lady Anne Garrard Ulmer and her husband Joe of Madison, and Deborah Louise Garrard McLeod and her husband Robert of Round Rock, Texas; one son, John Walter Garrard, II and his wife Susan Easom Garrard of Jackson; two sisters, Mary Garrard Henley and her husband Jay Hugh of Brandon and Patricia Garrard Stanley of Flowery Branch, Georgia; seven grandsons, Joe Green Ulmer, III and his wife Sarah, William Garrard Ulmer and his wife Martha, Benjamin Taylor Ulmer and his wife Joan, John Walter Garrard, III, William Walden Garrard, Thomas Peyton McLeod, and Robert Langley McLeod and his wife Paige; and three great grandchildren, Evelyn Taylor Ulmer, Virginia Grace Ulmer, and William Garrard Ulmer, II.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, May 31, 2017 from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Burton Funeral Home of Indianola and Thursday, June 1, 2017 from 10:00am until the 11:00 am funeral service at Inverness United Methodist Church, 805 5th Street, Inverness, Mississippi. Burial will follow in Belzoni Cemetery in Belzoni. Burton Funeral Home of Indianola is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Inverness United Methodist Church, PO Box 2, Inverness, MS 38753; Mississippi Children's Museum, 2145 Museum Boulevard, Jackson, MS 39202; or Methodist Children's Home, 805 North Flag Road, Jackson, MS 39209.

The family expresses its sincere appreciation to the staff of Grace Hospice.