OBITUARY

Perry Nell Garrett Sorrells

October 8, 1936 – March 20, 2025

Perry Nell Garrett Sorrells, 88 of Monroe, Georgia suddenly passed away on March 20, 2025.  Perry Nell was born on October 8, 1936, in Walton County, Georgia to Perry Guy Garrett and Omer Lucille Meadows.   She married John Lamar Sorrells on December 29, 1954, in Fulton County, Georgia and they celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary in December.

In the summer between her seventh and eighth grade in school, Perry Nell was selected as an inaugural member of the Monroe Girls Drum and Bugle Corp.  She played on the first line of horns directly behind the drums. Under the direction of Wayne Shields, the all-girls Monroe Drum and Bugle Corp reached national recognition and served as ambassadors for Monroe, Georgia.  After she graduated from Monroe High School in 1954, she accompanied the corps as a chaperone to New York City to the Macy’s Day Parade.

As a multi-generational family member from the Walton County community, Perry Nell took great pride in civic service as well as built a successful business with her husband in Monroe.  She was a Real Estate Broker at the Sorrells Agency and in 1990 served as President of Walton County Board of Realtors.  She is a past board member of the historic McDaniel Tichenor house and served with distinction on the Governor’s Committee.  She served several years on the Planning and Zoning committee for the City of Monroe.

Later in life she enjoyed world-wide travel, painting, quilting, sewing, and writing poetry.  She was the world’s best cook of the chocolate pie and as the daughter of former Monroe restaurateurs, she continued to cook the world-famous Perry Garrett hamburger recipe created in 1933 for family and friends.

Perry Nell was a long-time member of Monroe First Methodist Church and served as a past trustee, along with a member of the parsonage committee, worship committee and quilting ministry.

Perry Nell was predeceased by her parents Perry and Lucille Garrett of Monroe, GA and sister, Virginia Moore, of Monroe, GA.  She is survived by her husband John L. Sorrells, daughter Jeanie and husband Barry Beach, daughter Janet Townsend and husband Bradley Townsend, and daughter Amy Kirby – all of Monroe, GA; along with six grandchildren: Kyle Beach, Camille Beach, Emily Townsend Vinson, Grace Townsend, Grant Kirby and Garrett Kirby and two great-grandchildren Whitley Beach and Leighton Beach; brother Thomas  “Tommy” Garrett of Alpharetta, GA and sister Barbara “Bobbie” Briscoe of Monroe, GA.

A Memorial service will be held on Sunday March 30th at 3:00 PM at the Monroe First Methodist Church with the Rev. Wes Sorrells officiating.  There will be a visitation on Sunday March 30th at the Monroe First Methodist Church from 1:30 PM until 3:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made to the Monroe First Methodist Church Building Fund, 400 South Broad Street, Monroe, GA 30655.