Herbert C. Garrett Jr., 92, of Woodruff, died Dec. 24, 2020.

A native of Woodruff, he attended The Citadel, but left a semester early to join the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He later completed his degree at Carson-Newman University and graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was awarded a doctorate by Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. He served eight churches as pastor — three in South Carolina and five in Texas. Following retirement, he served 21 churches in South Carolina as interim pastor.

He was instrumental in the organization of Baptist College of Charleston (now Charleston Southern University) and served on the board of three other Baptist colleges, two homes for the aging, and many additional committees and boards. He was named “Pastor of the Year” by Texas Baptists, and was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the Spartanburg County Baptist Network and Pastor Emeritus by Southside Baptist Church in Spartanburg. He spent six weeks in South Africa at the invitation of the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board).

Survivors include four children, 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.