Lois Edna Verner Brackett Ramsay~A Feminist Ahead of Her Time

Edna with Episcopal Bishop John Bruno at the CSW parade in West Hollywood

A tribute to our mother Lois Edna Verner Brackett-Ramsay-Garren.

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Mrs. Garren was born on the east bank of the Tugalo river in Occonee county South Carolina on November 5, 1912. Her mother was Nancy Garner-Brackett of Stephen’s county Georgia, a local mid-wife. Her father was Edwin Ramsay, who owned a sawmill in Oconee county South Caolina (across the Tugalo river).

She was almost named Woodrow because she was born on the day Woodrow Wilson was elected president.

She grew up in a small farming community of Deercourt in Stephens county, on the west bank of the Tugalo River in north east Georgia. Her mother sharecropped to raise six children in an abandoned train station. At the age of ten, Edna realized that no one would ever take care of her, particularly a man. Inspired by her oldest sister Laura Louise, she became determined to escape the grinding poverty of her surroundings.

Story of Laura Louise Brackett-Beasley

Edna at 14

At 15, she applied for and received a full scholarship and left home to complete a high school education at Tallulah Falls High School.  TFHS was established by the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs in the early 1920's.  After women got the right ot vote, The "suffrage" movement became "Women's Clubs" with the specific mission of creating and enhancing educational and career opportunities for girls and young women in the United States.  

Her mother's response was to declare her "No longer my daughter" because Edna would not commit to staying home and taking care of her mother.

A geneologist friend compiled the history of Edna's mother's family.  There were significant family secrets and (shame filled) history.  Basically, Edna's mother was a "bastard" (born out of marriage).  Her mother had six children by 5 different men, wasn't married to the last 4, including Edna's father, Edwin Ramsay.  
A History of the Brackett Family of Stephens County Georgia

At TFHS she made the first reed basket at the school craft shop, was a loom threader in the weave shop, and was the first girl to take woodworking shop. The boarding students such as Edna made quilts, sweaters, and other crafts to be sold to help pay for their expenses. Mrs. Garren retained many of these skills, and over her lifetime made many quilts, knitting, needlepoint displays and other crafts. She made her last quilt in her early 90s, a photo of her with it is below.

She was Salutatorian of her graduating class. At the time of her passing, she was the oldest living graduate of the school.  She was named one of four outstanding former students of Tallulah Falls by the homecoming committee of the class of 1988.

Edna graduated in 1931 and lived briefly in Norfolk Virginia (with Louise) before moving to Tampa Florida in 1932.  Her older sister, Grace Kemp lived in Tampa with her husband, Alger Kemp (who was a gifted "ink" artist).  Her quick wit and charm brought her into favorable attention of local civic and business community leaders in Tampa and she enjoyed a lively career as a legal secretary and office manager.

Edna on Franklin Street in Tampa, mid 1930's.

She is in the suit and hat to the left of the street light pole, she made the suit and hat.  During the Depression, she made most of her clothes.

In 1939 she met Edward Voltaire Garren on an arranged blind date and the two courted for approximately 15 months and married at the home of “Sweet Pea” and Dora Mahoney in the Forest Hills section of Tampa on a Wednesday night in August of 1940.  A delightful recording of my parents telling how they met, married and the outbreak of WWII is at this link:
"Ed & Edna Garren remember 1940 & WWII" 

At the beach on an early date with Edward Voltaire Garren

In 1948, out on the town in Tampa, Florida

She had 4 pregnancies.  The first mis-carried at 5 months, the second was my brother Francis Edward "Gene" Garren.  The third was a daughter, Martha Edna who was born with Spina Bifida and lived 45 days.  I was the fourth pregnancy, born in 1949.  In typical "Southern humor" I occasionally joked that they should have quit while they were ahead, we all laugh.

After my baptism (at St. Mary's Dade City)  I was a year old.

In 1950 the Garren family moved to Dade City Florida where they lived for 35 years. In Dade City Edna opened the Credit Bureau of Dade City which she owned for ten years and then sold to continue a career managing the State Attorney and Clerk of the Circuit Court’s offices until her retirement in 1977 on the day she turned 65.

At the 75th Anniversary celebration of St. Mary's in Dade City,

with Kate Cowen & Beth Marie Sperry

During her time in Dade City, she was president of the Dade City Women’s Club, a Democratic Executive Committee Member and founder of the Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club for Women. She was very active in the life of St. Mary’s Episcopal church as well, serving on the Altar Guild, Choir, Daughter’s of the King, and the Episcopal Church Women.

She was always adamant that her name not be published as “Mrs. Edward V. Garren", stating that she was not Mrs. to anyone except herself.

With Frances & Cliff Freeman at the Western Auto Store in Dade City

In 1985 the Garren’s moved to Asheville North Carolina and soon became active in the life of All Soul’s Episcopal Church in Biltmore Village. 

In 1992 her husband Edward died at the age of 82 of congestive heart failure. In 1994 she moved to West Hollywood California where she became active in St. Thomas Episcopal church, volunteering in the HIV patient lunch program and performed in a production of “The Matchmaker” (the non-musical of “Hello Dolly”).

Photos of the West Hollywood years are below:

With good friend Hank Weinstein (2001)

 At the Grand Canyon

 Touring Monument Valley (1991)

 Going to the Monday Farmer's Market at Vista & Fountain

 Edna loved hats, and was loved by the woman who sold them at the Farmer's Market.

Edna in "Dillard House Heaven" at the Dillard House in Dillard, Georgia (2002)

 Edna with grandson Michael Lee Garren, his mother Wonhui (in red) and his aunt Lee Bass

 My God Daughter, Ruthenia Nicole Glenn-Ramirez, her husband Jorge and their two kids, Genevive and Gilbert (circa 2004)

 Edna at a Pumpkin stand in Santa Paula, CA (circa 1995)

Edna loved living in West Hollywood.  In additon to the weather, she enjoyed the rich diversity of the people she met and spent time with.  Years before, when I lived in Miami, she expressed her pleasure that I was learning Spanish.  "No one is really educated if they only speak one language. A person should know at least two" was her belief on the issue of "Multi-lingualism."  She explained that she had never had an opportunity to learn and use a second language, and was glad that both of her sons, and grandson Michael, spoke multiple languages.

In addition, Mrs. Garren participated in many Christopher Street West (Gay & Lesbian pride) parades in support of the Democratic Party. Mrs. Garren received two “Outstanding Citizen” awards from the City of West Hollywood, and November 5, 1992 was declared “Edna Garren Day” in recognition of her 90th birthday.

 Luis & Edna at one of the many CSW (LGBTQ Pride) parades we were in

 With Julie Summers at CSW

 Councilmember John Jude Duran presenging her award for her 90th Birthday

 With U.S. Senator Bob Graham whom we supported for President

We were honored to attend the wedding of Angelique & Cleophus Rawls

In 2005 Edna went to live with my brother Gene Garren in western North Carolina.  She enjoyed her "Mountain Years" which were very close to the Northeast Georgia hills she had left in her youth.  

 Edna's room in Asheville NC. One of her many quilts.

 One of her early quilts, which I still have and cherish

Edna at her 95th Birthday Party in Asheville, NC (2007)

Edna Garren (Lois Edna Verner Ramsay-Garren) passed away on Tuesday August 24th, 2010, from (to use her words) “Old Age and Aggrevation”. She was 97 years old. She had been in declining health for about 12 months. She passed away peacefully around 8:40 AM (EDT) in Burnsville North Carolina, her oldest son Gene was with her when she passed.

This quote in many ways, embodied how our mother Edna lived her life.

"Faith is not believing that certain claims or statements about God are true. Genuine faith presumes a relationship with God...and a way of seeing the world as life-giving and nourishing rather than as hostile and threatening.”  

Brother David Vryhof, Society of St. John the Evangelist

The video of her 90th birthday party is here.  There are two parts, enjoy them both.  Edna's 90th birthday in West Hollywood, CA (2002).

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"I have the nerve to walk my own way, however hard, in my search for reality, 

rather than climb upon the rattling wagon of wishful illusions."

      Letter from (fellow Floridian) Zora Neale Hurston

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zora_Neale_Hurston

 to Countee Cullen

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countee_Cullen

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost… the world will not have it.

It is not your business to determine how good it is, nor how valuable, nor how it compares with other expressions. 

It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open …” 

- Martha Graham, in a letter to Agnes De Mille; published in “The Life and Work of Martha Graham”