Min. Anita Renee Garrett

The Life, Love & Legacy of

Minister Anita Renné Garrett

Sunrise: February 5, 1952 • Sunset: August 22, 2026

Her Beginning

Anita Renné Garrett was born on February 5, 1952, in Pueblo, Colorado, to the late Arthur Garrett and Ernestine Garrett. She was also the sister of the late Gaston Garrett, her half-brother from her father’s previous marriage.

From an early age, Anita demonstrated the creativity, independence, determination, and strength that would characterize her throughout her life.

She received her primary education through Denver Public Schools and attended East High School, where her vibrant personality and leadership abilities were already evident as she proudly served as captain of the varsity cheerleading team.

Anita possessed both an artistic mind and an entrepreneurial spirit. Following high school, she relocated to California and attended Brooks College in Long Beach, California, where she studied fashion design and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Design.

Her commitment to education and personal development did not end there. In 1992, Anita earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Human Resources from Colorado Christian University. She later continued her graduate education at Regis University, where she earned a master’s degree in nonprofit management.

She was a lifelong learner whose interests stretched from fashion and the arts to organizational leadership, community development, ministry, and, most importantly, the Word of God.

A Creative Entrepreneur and Professional

Creativity was woven deeply into the fabric of Anita’s life.

Throughout her professional journey, she used her many gifts as a fashion designer, leathersmith, tailor, boutique manager, entrepreneur, nonprofit professional, community advocate, resource navigator, and administrator.

From 1973 through 1974, Anita operated A. Garrett Lumber & Wrecking Company, her father’s business. During that time, she carried the responsibility of running the company with determination, business sense, resilience, and leadership. She honored her father’s legacy by serving its customers and managing the business with dedication.

When her brother, Gaston Garrett, returned home and assumed responsibility for the company, Anita was able to pursue her passion for fashion design and continue developing the creative gifts that had always been a part of her life.

During her years in California, Anita served as boutique manager of Benin African Imports in Los Angeles, utilizing both her eye for fashion and her natural ability to connect with people. Upon returning to Denver, her entrepreneurial spirit led her to become the owner of The Jean Joint, where she continued expressing her passion for fashion, design, and business.

As her professional journey evolved, Anita entered the nonprofit sector, where her gifts for service, advocacy, development, and connecting people with resources found another expression. She served as a development officer for several nonprofit organizations throughout the Denver metropolitan area, including the Black United Fund.

Anita also founded Community Ministry Outreach, an organization through which she continued her commitment to strengthening families, serving those in need, and making a tangible difference in her community.

In the later years of her professional career, Anita served as a regional resource navigator for The Salvation Army Regional Connections Center, assisting individuals and families in connecting with vital resources and services.

Her final place of employment was St. Paul Rehabilitation Center, where she served as an administrative receptionist. Even in this role, the qualities that had characterized her life remained evident—her ability to interact with people, serve others, remain dependable, and bring her unique personality into the spaces she occupied.

Anita was truly a woman of many gifts. She could draw, paint, design and tailor clothing, work with leather, and style hair. She loved gardening and making gift baskets, enjoyed writing plays for children, and could envision something in her mind and then use her hands, creativity, and determination to bring it to life.

Yet among all the things she loved to create and study, one of her greatest passions was the Word of God.

A Miracle Called Motherhood

Of all the prayers Anita prayed and all the dreams she carried throughout her life, there was one desire especially precious to her heart:

Anita desperately wanted to be a mother.

Yet what she desired seemed to stand in direct opposition to what she faced physically. Anita had a ten-pound tumor in her womb, presenting what appeared to be an overwhelming obstacle to carrying the child for whom she had prayed.

But Anita believed God.

According to the testimony she carried throughout her life, the Lord heard her prayer and miraculously shrank the tumor, making room in her womb for the miracle she had asked Him to give her.

Through her relationship with Joseph Hopper, Anita’s long-awaited prayer was answered.

On January 10, 1990, she gave birth to her miracle baby and only biological child, Pastor Charis Hope-Christian Garrett.

For Anita, motherhood was not simply another chapter in her story.

Motherhood was an answered prayer.

And from the moment her miracle arrived, Anita showed up.

She was present for every first day of school, every school event, every concert, every play, and every milestone in her daughter’s life.

She encouraged.

She corrected.

She protected.

She sacrificed.

She prayed.

She celebrated.

And she loved fiercely.

Anita mastered the delicate art of being both her daughter’s number one critic and number one fan. She could challenge Charis to become better while simultaneously believing there was nothing her daughter could not accomplish.

As Charis grew from the little girl Anita had prayed for into a woman walking in her own faith, creativity, ministry, music, leadership, and purpose, Anita remained there—watching, encouraging, critiquing, praying, supporting, and cheering.

Anyone who knew Anita knew:

She was Charis’s number one fan.

Among the many titles, degrees, accomplishments, positions, and responsibilities Anita carried throughout her lifetime, few brought her greater pride than simply being called “Mom.”

She prayed for a miracle, and God gave her Charis.

Then she spent the rest of her life loving that miracle.

A Woman of Faith

At the foundation of Anita’s life was her relationship with God.

Her Christian faith was not merely a Sunday experience or a religious affiliation. She loved Scripture, valued worship, believed deeply in the power of prayer, and devoted countless years of her life to Christian service.

In 1963, Anita became affiliated with Zion Baptist Church, where she remained until 1990. She later returned to Zion and served there again from 2001 through 2016.

From 1991 through 2001, Anita was a member of House of Joy Miracle Deliverance Church, later returning to the House of Joy family from 2017 through 2023.

Throughout various seasons of her Christian journey, she also fellowshipped with several churches throughout the Denver metropolitan area, including Hope City and Rising Star Baptist Church.

In 2024, Anita became a part of her daughter’s ministry, Encounter Center Church, where she served until her transition.

Her journey of faith included service as Minister Anita Garrett, but Anita understood that ministry was much greater than a title behind one’s name.

To her, ministry meant service.

She believed faith should be demonstrated not only in what a person said in church, but also in how one lived, loved, gave, worked, served, and responded to the needs of others.

She loved the Lord.

She loved His Word.

She loved His Church.

And she loved His people.

A Heart for Community

Anita’s concern for people consistently moved beyond words and into action.

Her heart was especially tender toward families, women, children, and individuals facing difficult circumstances.

For many years, Anita organized toy drives for families in need, with efforts spanning approximately 1998 through 2012. She supported and organized back-to-school backpack giveaways, helping children begin the school year with the supplies they needed and the dignity they deserved.

Her concern for women and families also led her to support initiatives advocating for treatment for mothers battling drug and alcohol addiction, recognizing that when a mother receives the help she needs, the impact can extend throughout an entire family and into future generations.

Anita volunteered her time and gifts with numerous churches, charitable organizations, and community initiatives. Her service extended beyond her immediate community through Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan’s Purse, helping provide gifts and expressions of Christian love to children in need.

Whether through her professional career, her nonprofit work, her church service, or her personal acts of kindness, Anita lived with a simple understanding:

If she could help somebody, she would.

The Woman We Will Remember

Anita was many things to many people.

She was intelligent and creative.

She was strong-willed and determined.

She was fashionable and artistic.

She was educated and entrepreneurial.

She was resourceful and hardworking.

She was compassionate and giving.

She was a servant and a woman of faith.

She possessed the ability to see possibility where others might have seen limitation. She could create something beautiful with her hands, develop something meaningful with her mind, and give something valuable from her heart.

Her life was not without hardship. She encountered obstacles, disappointments, transitions, and seasons that required tremendous strength and perseverance.

But Anita knew how to keep going.

She knew how to work.

She knew how to create.

She knew how to serve.

She knew how to pray.

She knew how to love.

And she knew how to believe God.

The miracle she once carried in her womb became a living reminder that circumstances do not always have the final word.

The miracle she prayed for became the daughter she raised.

The daughter she raised became the woman she proudly watched walk into purpose.

And now, that daughter carries forward a part of Anita’s legacy.

On Saturday, August 22, 2026, Minister Anita Renné Garrett answered the Master’s call and transitioned from labor to reward, exchanging time for eternity and moving from the Church Militant to the Church Triumphant.

Although her earthly presence will be deeply missed, her life leaves behind an enduring testimony of faith, perseverance, creativity, education, service, motherhood, generosity, and an unwavering love for God and His people.

Her Legacy Continues

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur Garrett and Ernestine Garrett, and her brother, Gaston Garrett.

While our hearts are heavy because of her absence, we do not sorrow as those who have no hope.

We thank God for every year. Every lesson. Every prayer. Every sacrifice. Every outfit created. Every child blessed. Every family helped. Every seed planted. Every Scripture studied. Every act of service. Every moment of laughter. Every word of correction. Every expression of love.

And every memory God graciously allowed us to share with Minister Anita Renné Garrett.

Her earthly voice may now be silent, but her life will continue speaking for generations.

Minister Anita Renné Garrett served her generation. She fought a good fight. She finished her course. She kept the faith. And now, her earthly labor is complete.

Servant of God, well done.

Rest from thy loved employ.

The battle fought, the victory won,

Enter thy Master’s joy.

“Well done, thou good and faithful servant… enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

Matthew 25:21

Minister Anita Renné Garrett

February 5, 1952 – August 22, 2026

A life of faith.

A heart of service.

A creative spirit.

A devoted mother.

A legacy of love.