Introducing New Board Members
Gene Garrison
Gene and his wife Martha recently moved to Cary, NC from Oklahoma. They have a son who lives in Oklahoma, a daughter in Cary and a granddaughter who is a college sophomore in New York.
In 1952, Gene began his pastorate at the First Baptist Church in Phillips, TX. After a distinguished career, he retired at the First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City in 1996. Immediately after retiring, he became host of a Religious Call-in Talk Show on a statewide radio network and he authored a quarterly newsletter, “Letters from Exile,” mailed to all Oklahoma Baptist pastors.
Throughout the years, he was active in denominational work. He was Second Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention; member, Home Mission Board Board of Directors; Moderator, The Baptist Forum (Pastor’s Conference), and delivered commencement addresses at Southwestern, Golden Gate and New Orleans Baptist seminaries.
Gene also served his community. He was Chairman, Oklahoma Ethics Commission; member, Governor’s Panel for Economic Recovery in Oklahoma; member, Memorial Planning Committee that was set up after the Oklahoma City bombing of the Murrah Building; President, Evangelical Pastor’s Conference; member, Oklahoma City Alliance of Churches.
He holds a BA Degree from West Texas State University; a BD and a ThM from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; two DD Honorary degrees from Dallas Baptist University and Oklahoma City University. He also studied at Mansfield College, Oxford University, England.
Janet Noyes
Janet was born and reared in Midlothian, VA and now resides in Big Canoe,
GA. She has a son in Dallas, TX and a daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter in
Dawsonville, GA.
She began her college work at Stratford Junior College, Danville, VA and received a BS
Degree in Education with a major in Speech and Pathology from the University of Virginia,
Charlottesville.
After college, Janet was hired by Chesterfield County, VA to create and
implement a Speech Therapy Program for the county. With that job well done, she became
assistant to the Director of Personnel Selection for the Southern Baptist International
Mission Board.
Janet is the former Assistant Director, Business Development, United Network for Organ
Sharing, in Richmond. She also served as the Fundraising Coordinator for the Midlothian
YMCA.
In her spare time, Janet is busy in a variety of community activities. A large part of her life has been dedicated to music. She is a soloist for many community events and she performs with the Michael O’Neal Singers, Atlanta. Big Canoe Chapel is the recipient of much of Janet’s musical talent. She is Assistant Music Director of the Chapel, Director of the Chapel Ensemble and Assistant Director, Chapel Handbell Choir.