Doris Sybil Cunningham Garren

Doris Sybil Cunningham Garren passed away on September 26, 2021 at the age of 93. She was born on February 1, 1928 in Cramerton, NC to Jonas Henon Cunningham and Ozzie Wilburn Cunningham.
Doris’s early life revolved around school, church, piano lessons, ball games, friends and neighbors, and the occasional Saturday afternoon, movie, which costs 10 cents to see. Doris finished high school in 1945 and later attended Lenoir Rhyne College the first year; attending the following year at King’s Business College in Charlotte, NC. After graduating from King Business College, she worked in the business office of Cramerton Mills, the Naval Air Station in Norfolk, VA; GMC in Charlotte/Raleigh, and First Baptist Church Kindergarten in Hendersonville, NC. She married Harold Davis Garren (deceased) of Andrews, NC for 69 years while living in Flat Rock, NC and raising her family. She was a wonderful mother and wife always thinking of others and putting others first. She will be very missed by her family.

She is survived by 3 children (Davis Garren and his wife Elaine) of Boiling Springs, SC; Kenny Garren of Fuquay-Varina, NC and Donna Boyle, Tequesta, FL; 5 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Doris was the last survivor of 5 siblings (Blanche Van Pelt, Jennie Queen; William (Bud), James and Ben Cunningham).

Services will be private.

Dear Family,
The Bible tells us that children are a gift from God. But my mom was one of God’s special gifts
to me. How can anyone put a price on “unconditional love”. That is what mom provided and it
is a rare commodity. She joyfully and willingly put her family above her own needs and desires.
Additionally, she loved life and knew how to laugh and have fun in the simplest ways. I loved
the way she would whistle and sing silly songs. Even though she couldn’t hear out of one ear,
she was one of the best listeners to her children, friends, and acquaintances. Sometimes mom
would be on the phone with a neighbor for an hour and would only say a few words every 10
minutes or so. People liked to confide in her. Knowing that, I sure was afraid to do anything
wrong when in college, because I knew mom would find out somehow and I didn’t want to
disappoint her. In our fast paced world, fewer and fewer people have time to truly listen. But
she cornered the market while her hearing held out.
Mom was so supportive of her children, helping them in many different aspects. She was a great
preschool teacher too and taught a few years at the Hendersonville First Baptist Church
kindergarten. Because of that, I got to go two years to kindergarten – and I needed it. Mom
would help her children with arts and crafts, encourage involvement in music, sports, and
academic achievement. Mom helped with science fair projects and making posters to support
her children running for different class offices. She was also a source of emotional security for
whatever or whoever tried to bring us down. Mom was a natural cheerleader.
Mom was also quick to smile and knew how to make people feel comfortable. Even in her last
days, she shared a smile with the nurses who were caring for her. Life hadn’t beaten her down
yet.
My mom was such a great lady and I will miss having her here on this earth. She ran her race
well but her earthly vessel had given out. Now she is home with Jesus and with those who have
trusted in Him as their Savior. Because of God’s grace, I will see her again one day soon.
Love to all,
Kenny

Memories of Grandmother-
Thanksgiving was the special time of year that we would all gather together at Grandmother and

Granddaddy’s house in Flat Rock, NC with Aunt Donna and Uncle Cal, Uncle Davis and Aunt Elaine, and
our cousins Crystal and John. Our family would normally stay in the back bedroom where Grandmother
would have the comfiest cots that you could sink into like a cocoon. She would have our latest pictures
up on the dresser along with packs of gum or other things she had saved just for us.
Grandmother would bake the turkey, green beans, rolls, and her famous fruit jello salad with cream
cheese and walnut topping. She was always busy in the kitchen or helping someone but on the rare
occasion she was sitting down, it would be in her special floral chair with the doily on the back of it and
her hands would be busy-knitting or crocheting washcloths (I still use mine) or socks for soldiers (toasty
toes). She was so creative-nothing went to waste. She would make thanksgiving decorations from
bottle caps or reuse cards to make the prettiest valentine cards with secret windows or compartments
for a dollar bill. While she saved everything, she was constantly giving things away. You never left
Grandmother’s house empty handed! I learned early on that this was one of her ways of showing love
and to accept it with a smile .
After Aunt Elaine’s red velvet cake, we would all bundle up and walk the mountain to burn off some
thanksgiving calories. Grandmother faithfully walked that mountain everyday for as long as she was
able. She would talk about her neighbor friends as we’d pass their homes-she was known and loved by
so many people.
She had a fun sense of humor. I smile just thinking about it. She would get tickled about something and
she had the cutest chuckle. She would cut out jokes from the newspaper and send them with our
Valentine’s Day cards when we were little. She was always thinking about others and we always knew
we were loved.
Grandmother, we will miss you so much and look forward to our reunion in heaven. We cherish the
memories we had with you!
Jessica Hoffman