Mr. Randy Garrard of Bowdon, Ga., passed away on Sept. 23, 2012. He was 53.

Mr. Garrard was born on March 6, 1959, in Washington, Ga., to Joe and Shirley Garrard. He was a graduate of Fayette County High School and then furthered his education at Young Harris College, the University of Georgia, and the University of West Georgia. He was a retired teacher having worked for the Carroll County Board of Education at Temple Elementary and Whitesburg Elementary. He also worked at Yatesville Elementary School. Mr. Garrard served the community as a member of Bowdon Library Board and the City of Bowdon Planning Commission. He was a member of Bowdon First United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Penny Sherrill Garrard; and his nephew, Jason Joyner.

Survivors include his daughter, Alex Garrard of Bremen, Ga.; his parents, Joe and Shirley Garrard of Brooks, Ga.; his brother, Robert Garrard of Birmingham, Ala.; his sister and brother-in-law, Clara and Paul Czachowski of Brooks; his sisters-in-law and their spouses, Marry Ann and Larry Smith and Lucy and Lynn Joyner, all of Carrollton, Ga.; his aunts and uncles, David and Beth Garrard and Mary Ann Garrard, all of Washington, Ga., Martha Jo and Mark Collins of Watkinsville, Ga., and Laura Sue Miller of Lattimore, N.C.; his nieces and nephews, Candace, Jason and Arden Jackson, Adrian Smith, Matthew Smith, Justin and Megan Joyner, Emily Winegarden, Tate Czachowski, and David Czachowski.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012, at the Bowdon First United Methodist Church. The Rev. Martha Dye will officiate and music will be provided by Mr. Walter Shealy. Pallbearers will be Tyler Folds, Matthew Smith, Justin Joyner, Jason Jackson, Hammond Garrard and Paul Czachowski. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 4 to 6 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Garrard’s memory to the General Scholarship Fund at Young Harris College (Young Harris College Office of Advancement, P.O. Box 275, Young Harris, GA 30582) or to Carroll County CASA (P.O. Box 310, Carrollton, GA 30112.)

Messages of condolence can be sent to the family at www.rainwaterfuneralhome.com.

Rainwater Funeral Home, Bowdon