A Love to Last a Lifetime
Local couple share 55 years together
M
ike and Phyllis Garrett have been married for 55 years, and they still hold hands. Phyllis Deloteus and Mike Garrett met in 1959 at a national Presbyterian Youth Rally at University of Tulsa. At the time, Phyllis was living in Bowling Green, Ky., and Mike was attending Maryville College in Maryville, Tenn. “Phyllis had a friend, Chris, who wanted to meet me because I was going to Maryville,” Mike said. “Phyllis decided to attend Maryville as well, so she was a freshman and I was a sophomore.” “We had assigned dining seats for a year,” Phyllis said. “We asked if we could sit with Mike, because we knew him from the rally.” Mike was getting his core curriculum out of the way so he could apply for law school.” Life on a college campus is insular, especially when there are no cars allowed on campus. Young lovers would have to rely on a bus service to Knoxville or attend special events on campus.
Story by Melonie Roberts
These hands have offered connection, comfort, teaching, passion and a lifetime of promises.
“So hold my hand tight. Hold my hand with confidence. For this love can last forever. For this love, we shall share it together.” — Shelby Dawson
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