Beatrice G. (Garrison) Riley

Beatrice G. Riley, 86, passed away peacefully on May 25, 2025, leaving behind a legacy rich with love, generosity, and faith. Born on September 7, 1938, in Flat Creek, NC, to the late Lester Melvin and Imogene Daniels Garrison, she was the beacon of her family and the embodiment of a life well-lived.

Beatrice spent her formative years in Barnardsville, NC, and later moved to Johnson City, TN, where she resided for 54 wonderful years. During her remarkable career, she served the nation first by working for the FBI, followed by a tenure with the IRS, where she met her beloved husband, Donald W. Riley, Sr. Their union lasted 46 years until his passing, and together they raised a loving family.

A devout member of South Western Baptist Church, Beatrice’s faith was the cornerstone of her existence, a guiding light that she shared with everyone around her. Her relationship with God provided her strength and imparted the values of love and generosity that defined her as a person.

Beatrice was a loving mother to Donald W. Riley, Jr., and an adored grandmother to Benjamin Morris Riley (Danielle Campbell) and Wilson Andrew Riley. Her role as ‘grandmother’ was one she cherished above all, pouring endless love and wisdom into the lives of her grandsons and 3 great-grandchildren.

She leaves behind her loving siblings, June Guthrie, Jane Robinson, and Marion Garrison, Dan Garrison, who, along with the rest of the Garrison family and several nieces and nephews, will miss her deeply. In addition to her parents, Beatrice was also preceded in death by her brothers, Gene, Morris, Don, and Jack Garrison.

Beatrice G. Riley will be remembered as a generous soul filled with unwavering faith and love. A matriarch in every sense, her memory will be treasured by all those whose lives she touched. Her radiant spirit now shines from above, guiding her loved ones as it always has, a testament to a beautiful life shared with many.

A memorial service to honor Mrs. Riley will be conducted at 6:00 PM on Friday, May 30, 2025, with Jerry Bailey and Doug Garrison officiating at Snyder’s Memorial in Gray, TN.

Snyder’s Memorial is honored to serve the family of Mrs. Beatrice G. Riley.

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