Jesse Jones Garrett
Jones, as he was affectionately known by family and friends spent the majority of his adult life as a hunting and fishing guide, as well as a commercial fisherman in Hernando and Citrus Counties. He also worked as a truck driver at various times. Shortly after the death of his maternal grandfather, William Driggers in 1889, Jones parents, Charney Hardeman Garrett and Georgianne Clementine Driggers moved to from Umatilla in Lake County, Florida to Hernando County, settling in the Annuttalaga Hammock district 8 miles north of the county seat of Brooksville. The Garrett's lived on the Stafford Prairie. Jones grew up in the middle of an area with many lakes and ponds full of fish and hardwood hammocks with bountiful game within a few minutes walking distance. During his career as a guide, he met many people from baseball legend Babe Ruth, to Governors and other government officials. For many years, Jones operated his commercial fishing business from an island he owned situated on Crawford Creek, a tributary of the Chassahowitska River about 7 miles as the crow flies from his homestead just west of Stafford Lake in the Annuttalaga Hammock. He sold his catch at Miss Maggie's Fish House at the head of the Chassohowitzka River in Citrus County. Miss Maggie's Fish House currently serves as a covered pavilion for the Citrus County Chassohowitzka River Park.
Jones and Verda were the parents of eight children: Henry Adrian Garrett, Sr., Gary Gardner Garrett, Jessie Juanita Garrett, Margaret Eliza Garrett, Charles Emmett Garrett, Howard Lee Garrett, Herbert Taylor Garrett and John Marion Garrett. Jones died June 12, 1954 in Brooksville of a heart attack and is buried next to his parents in Lake Lindsey Cemetery and Verda died January 12, 1977 in Brooksville and is also buried at Lake Lindsey Cemetery, near her sons, Henry and Herbert and her daughter Jessie Garrett Sisk. Henry Adrian Garrett was born on October 1, 1912 in Hernando County and married Iva Louise Crosby May 5, 1940, in Brooksville, Hernando County. Henry died September 15, 1976 and Iva died March 15, 2000, both in Sarasota, Florida. Henry and Iva are buried at Lake Lindsey Cemetery and were the parents of five children; Barabara Juanita, Henry Adrian, Jr., Charles James, Ronald Wayne, and Iva Gail. Gary Gardner Garrett was born August 13, 1914 in Homeland, Polk County, Florida. Gary married Marcella Buria of Tampa, Florida on September 20, 1947 in Tampa. Gary died March 27, 1990 in Tampa, and Marcella died in 2003 in Tampa. Both are buried in Tampa. Gary and Marcella were the parents of two children; Sylvia Gaycelle, and Gary Glen, both children preceded their parents in death having never married. Jessie Juanita Garrett was born October 1, 1916 in Hernando County, Florida. She married Homer Russell Sisk October 29, 1932 in Brooksville. Jessie died May 6, 1990 and Homer died February 13, 1987, both in Brooksville. They are buried in Lake Lindsey Cemetery in Hernando County. Homer and Jessie had no children. Magaret Eliza Garrett was born September 22, 1918 in Hernando County, Florida and married Wilson Leory Hammock on September 12, 1937 in Inverness, Citrus County, Florida. Wilson, born January 12, 1911 in Pinetta, Madison County, Florida died April 3,1965 in Brooksville, Florida. He is buried at Lake Lindsey Cemetery. On March 28, 1969 Margaret married William Hop Smith IV in Brooksville, Florida. W. H., as he was known died November 15, 1992 in Brooksville,Florida and is buried next to his first wife, Mildred Ellen Smith at Lake Lindsey Cemetery. Margaret died March 23, 2010 and is buried next to Wilson at Lake Lindsey Cemetery. Margaret and Wilson were the parents of five daughters; Dorothy Louise, Virginia Doris, Ruby Lee, Helen Lenora and Margaret Laverne. Charles Emmett Garrett was born was born February 21, 1921 in Hernando Co., FL and married Hattie Crosby. Emmett died on 8 Oct 1998 in Tampa, Hillsborough County and is buried at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Sumter County, Florida. Emmet and Hattie are the parents of two daughters, Hattie Diane and Patricia Ann, neither are married. Hattie was the sister of Iva Crosby. Howard Lee Garrett was born March 3, 1926 in Hernando County, Florida and married three times, first to an Unknown O'Neal, then to Betty Swinford, both of which ended in divorce and finally to Nealie Head. Howard died on December 31, 1995 in Brooksville, Florida and is buried at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Sumter County, Florida. Howard and Betty had five children; Terry Lee, Wanda Lou, Audrey Jean, Deborah Ann and Renee. He had no other children. Herbert Taylor Garrett was born December 10, 1927 in Hernando County, Florida and married first Iris Clements in 1948 in Brooksville, Florida. They divorced in 1956. On December 24, 1962 Herbert married Margie Neville Hicks in Brooksville, Florida. Herbert died June 20, 1983 in Brooksville, Florida and is buried at Lake Lindsey Cemetery in Hernando County. Howard and Iris were the parents of three children; Wilma Marie, Jerry Lee, and Sheila Ann. Herbert and Neville had one daughter, Sharon Christine. John Marion Garrett was born November 21, 1930 in Hernando County, Florida. He married three times. He first married June Harrellson of Tampa, Florida on July 30, 1954 in Tampa. That marriage ended in divorce in 1958. He then married Margaret Sue Hicks on December 24, 1962 in Hernando County, Florida, and they divorced in 1969. His third marriage was Jackie Sharp in 1983 and they divorced in 1993. Johnny died in Nashville, TN in 2007 and is buried at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Sumter County, Florida. Johnnie had one son with his first wife June; Johnnie Eugene. Jones and Verda's legacy lives on their 24 grandchildren, over 100 great grandchildren and over 200 great great grandchildren. Author: Laverne Tornow, May 2010 |