Charlotte Perron Garris

Marie-Louisette Charlotte Perron Garris, 95, died July 2, 2022 in Suwanee, Georgia. She was born April 19, 1927 in Quebec City, Canada, the daughter of Marie-Louise Gingras Perron and Gratien Perron. Charlotte grew up in Quebec City, the seventh of thirteen siblings. After completing secondary and professional studies, she worked as a secretary and subsequently joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. In 1953 she was stationed in Paris, France, where she met Richard Thomas Garris; they married in 1954. Their early encounters were spent writing notes to each other, since she could read and write English but could not yet speak it and Richard was not yet able to converse in French. He loved her beauty and sense of humor; she was impressed by his quiet demeanor, persistence, and intelligence. Charlotte and Richard lived in France for several years before returning to the US. They had four sons, Michael, Larry, Kevin, and John. The family moved a number of times during Richard’s Air Force career before coming to Mississippi, where Richard retired. Charlotte became a naturalized US citizen in 1958. She was a devout Catholic, homemaker, and bridge player. When her youngest sons were in high school she took evening classes and earned an American high school diploma in 1979. Charlotte received serious injuries and Richard was killed in a head-on collision on Hwy. 90 in Pass Christian, MS in June, 1998. She suffered severe pain from those injuries for the rest of her life but she still found reasons to joke and laugh, attended her grandchildren’s weddings, and continued to play bridge. Charlotte moved to Georgia in 2005 to be closer to sons Kevin and John. Charlotte is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and four siblings. A celebration of life will be held at St. Thomas Catholic Church, Long Beach, at 11:30am, October 13, 2022. Visitation will start at 10:30am. Charlotte will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband Richard that afternoon at 1:30pm in the Biloxi National Cemetery.