Betty Gean Chenault Garrett was born in Woodworth, Rapides Parish, Louisiana to John Franklin Chenault and Louise Blanche Cannon Chenault. She spent her early childhood years in Cloutierville, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana where she attended a Catholic school. The family moved to Boyce, Louisiana where her father worked as a night watchman prior to becoming the City Marshal and Deputy Sheriff for Rapides Parish.
Betty was a student in the Boyce school system until her graduation from High School in May 1952. During her junior and senior high school years Betty was in the school band, playing the French horn, and sang in the Glee Club. She was able to take piano lessons because her half-brother, John, who was serving in the Army during World War II sent an allotment to pay for the lessons.
In the summer of 1951 Betty visited her former sister-in-law’s family in Shreveport, Louisiana. During this visit she met Harold Garrett at the church where the family attended. She and Harold had several dates during this summer. When she returned home, they continued the friendship through an exchange of letters. In the spring of 1952, Harold was able to travel to Boyce for a weekend and meet Betty’s family. Upon graduation in May 1952, Betty moved to Shreveport to live with her sister-in-law’s family and find a job. In a few weeks Harold proposed, and they set a wedding date for October. Yes, Betty found a job and worked as a cashier at a large grocery store.
Life circumstances bring changes: Shortly after the engagement Harold was offered and accepted a job in Texarkana, Texas. First, this did not affect the wedding date. But because of Harold’s loneliness and living in a one room apartment Betty was persuaded to change to date of August 31, 1952. So, on Sunday afternoon the wedding was officiated by Reverend Joe Flanagan, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, at the home of Harold’s parents. Both set of parents, family members and friends attended. This small wedding ceremony began a journey of life together that neither of these two young people would have ever imagined. God had some great experiences and challenges in his plan for this young couple and their family.
The life for Betty and Harold was quite simple for the first three years. Each worked in Shreveport; active in their church, and the birth of their first child, Donna Louise, on November 15, 1954.
What, again – major life changes? Yes, in 1955, Harold and Betty decided to follow God’s call for Harold to enter the ministry. This was the beginning of God leading the family to unbelievable experiences; 14 years serving a church pastor and 25 years as an active-duty Navy Chaplain.
In 1955, the family moved to Marshall, Texas to attend East Texas Baptist College. Betty was only able to attend for two years due to medical issues; Harold graduated in 1959. During these years Harold served as pastor at two rural churches, Linden and Atlanta, Texas and Betty used her talent to serve as the pianist for worship services.
1959 brought a move to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to prepare for Harold to attend New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. This was the year the God bless the family with a second child, Rebecca Susan, born on November 9, 1959. Betty and Harold were blessed to serve the Sixty Eighth Avenue Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. A third daughter, Robin Frances, joined the family on June 27, 1963. In 1965 Harold graduated from the seminary and West Side Baptist Church in Lafayette, Louisiana extended an invitation to become the pastor. Invitation accepted and move was made. Betty and Harold thought this would be a “long time” ministry; but God, in his infinite wisdom, had other plans.
Wow! Talk about a change. From being a pastor and Betty’s outstanding work as the wife of a pastor, serving in many, many places in the ministry. Navy, as a Chaplain and wife of an active duty Chaplain? God called and away Betty, Harold and family go.
Harold spends two months, July and August 1969, in school in Newport, Rhode Island; orders to a Destroyer Squadron, Chaplain in Long Beach, California (deploying to Vietnam in October for six months). Betty and family remained in Lafayette until Harold returned from Vietnam in June 1970. Betty is tasked to sell the house they bought and schedule shipment of household goods to California upon Harold’s return. For Betty – not a problem – all things accomplished with flying colors. Family arrives in Long Beach July 1970 and settle in Navy quarters in San Pedro, California.
Another deployment is scheduled for Harold in February 1971. In December, Betty receives a telephone call from her brother, A. B., with news that she needs to come home because her mother’s medical condition indicates she only has a few days to live. Betty reluctantly returns home, feeling pulled to be there but also with Harold and the girls because of the upcoming deployment in February. Her mother passes away in a short period of time; God having made it possible for Betty to be there with her mother in the final days. Taking leave during the Christmas holidays, Harold and girls travel to Louisiana to visit family and bring Betty to California.
A family on the go: Navy moves takes Betty and family to San Diego, California for eight years (1971-1979). She serves as mother and father for the girls during a Harold’s one-year unaccompanied tour with Marines in Thailand and Japan and two six months deployments as a ship’s chaplain. From San Diego, it’s on to Jacksonville, North Carolina for 2 years; Memphis, Tennessee for 3 years; 9 months at Newport, Rhode Island; 3 years at Camp Pendleton California; 3 years in Coronado, California; one year in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and (Praise God) to Gulfport, Mississippi for 3 years –and Harold’s retirement in May 1994.
Betty’s comments about all these moves were always positive “new places to see, new people to meet and greater blessings from God.” She said many times “when I was growing up in a small town in Louisiana, I never expected to live all the places I lived, meet all the people I have met, see the things I have seen and do all the things I have done.”
Betty Chenault Garrett was the perfect Navy wife; always supportive of Harold’s work and willing to go wherever the Navy sent them. Many times, she was left to be both mother and father to the children due to the many deployments and months of separations necessitated by the Navy assignments of her husband. Betty was willing to sacrifice her own career, only working outside the home on rare occasions. She felt God’s call for her was supporting her husband and providing the best guidance for her children. Rest well Betty: God called, you answered and your life has blessed not only your family but countless others whose path you crossed.
Betty was predeceased by her parents; brothers Thomas Franklin Chenault, John Francis Chenault, Albert Blanchard Chenault; sisters Iris Elizabeth Chenault Bond and Flossie Amanda Chenault. She is also predeceased by one grandson, Christopher Philip Martin.
She is survived by her husband, Harold Garrett; daughters, Donna Louise Garrett Moore (Malcolm) of Destrehan, Louisiana; Rebecca Susan Garrett Ratajczyk (Tom) of Plaquemine, Louisiana; Robin Frances Garrett Jarvis (Keith) of Castle Rock, Colorado.
She is also survived by six grandchildren: Ryan Alexander Garrett Ratajczyk (Kristina) of Plaquemine, Louisiana; Jennifer Louise Martin Simmons (Jimi) of Lexington, South Carolina; Kristin Ashley Jarvis Marrs (Matt) of Castle Rock, Colorado; Amanda Arlene Ratajczyk (Dameonn II) of Plaquemine, Louisiana; Samuel Anthony Moore of Destrehan, Louisiana and Garrett Keith Jarvis of Castle Rock, Colorado.
Betty is survived by nine great grandchildren: Gabrielia Alexandria Ratajczyk, Thomas Garrett Ratajczyk, D. J. Edwards, III, Andrew Bryant Simmons, Elyasbeth Jean Ratajczyk, Alexis Louise Simmons, Emerie Frances Marrs, James Norman Marrs, and Alyssa MacKensie Simmons.
Burial will be in Flatwoods Cemetery, Flatwoods, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, where her parents and other members of her family are buried. A “Celebration of Life” will most likely occur in October at the cemetery.
Betty Chenault Garrett is a descendant of the French Huguenot Immigrant Estienne CHENEAU. Betty’s sixth great grandfather Estienne arrived in the Virginia Colony in 1700/1701 on board the ship NASSAU, landing in Yorktown, Virginia. The Cheneau family had fled the persecutions in Northern France to the Netherlands.
Riemann Family Funeral Homes, 9113 Kiln Delisle Road, Pass Christian, is honored to serve the Garrett family.