Garland Allen Morrison

Garland A. Morrison, 88, of Little Rock went home to his heavenly Father earlier this year. He was greatly loved by family, friends and those whose lives he touched in his 50 plus years of ministry.

Garland was born on April 21, 1936, in Locust Grove, Oklahoma to Dr. Garland W. (G.W.) Morrison and Erma O’Neill Morrison. He had one sister, Kathy Morrison Moudy. The family followed G.W. as he preached and pastored in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Garland graduated from Fayetteville High School, where he was a standout on the basketball court, sang in chorus and learned auto mechanics. After graduating high school, he attended the University of Arkansas and married Donna Carol Johnson of Weddington, Arkansas. Four children were born to this union.

At 23, Garland followed God’s call and began preaching. He was ordained pastor at First Baptist Church Bigelow before a short period in full time evangelism. He spent the next 16 years pastoring churches in Hot Springs, Fayetteville, Ozark and Jonesboro, Arkansas. During his years as pastor, Garland led more than 500 revivals sharing God’s Word.

In 1975, he was introduced to Carol Lou Reames of El Dorado. He asked her out three times, twice she turned him down. They were married for 48 years. They soon moved to Marion, Indiana and their adventure at Sunnycrest Baptist Church began. Garland pastored with Carol by his side for the next 25 years. Under his leadership, the church grew from 200 to 2,700 members, planted three missions, started a bus ministry, led the state of Indiana in baptisms and discipleship, began a television ministry on the ACTS Network, built a 24-hour, low power television station carried by sixteen cable systems and pioneered a “Super Sixties” ministry to over 1,000 senior adults in the Grant County area.

Garland became a leader in the Southern Baptist denomination serving as president of the Arkansas Baptist Pastors Conference and the Indiana Baptist Pastors Conference. He was twice vice president of the Indiana Baptist Convention and was appointed trustee of both the Radio and Television Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, and the North American Mission Board.

In 2001, Garland retired from full time service with the intention to preach revivals and help struggling churches. He became the Associate to the Pastor and Senior Adult Pastor at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Cabot for the six years. This was followed by nearly four years as Interim Pastor of Bono Baptist Church in Greenbriar. The couple eventually retired to Hot Springs Village where Garland enjoyed frequent rounds of golf and spending time on his golf cart, fondly named Visitation.

A faithful Razorback fan, Garland watched whatever sport the Hogs were playing. One of his other loves was cars, buying, selling, or checking out the latest models. He loved anything fast, but even faster than cars were airplanes. At 33, he drove from Ozark to Van Buren for his first two flying lessons and then flew himself to the remaining lessons to earn his pilot’s license. In his lifetime, Garland owned multiple airplanes and built several single engine experimental planes. Before he hung up his wings, he logged over 13,000 hours in the air. Garland’s other hobbies were hunting, fishing and traveling on cross country trips by RV.

Garland is survived by his children, Deb (Mahdi) Haddadi, Susan Smith, David (Jeri) Morrison, Connie (Clay) Cartwright; five grandchildren Wesley Morrison, Elizabeth Cartwright Sill, Allison Smith Behr, Adam Cartwright, Carly Smith Gannom; and six great grandchildren. Garland was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Carol Lou Morrison, his sister Kathy Moudy, stepson Todd Nethercutt, and son-in-law Bradley (Susan) Smith.

Garland’s love of life and passion for God leaves a legacy of faith to his family and friends. The ripple effect of his life will not be fully known on this side of heaven.

A memorial service in honor of Garland will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at Smith Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct. Little Rock, AR.