Rev. Ross D. Garrison, Sr. was born in Harden Bossier Paris, Louisiana on January 1, 1904. He was the only child born to the late Charlie and Lottie Garrison. At an early age, Garrison migrated with his family to Atoka, Oklahoma where he attended Dunbar Public School. Later he attended L.C.I. in Texas. He is a graduate of Louisiana University, United Methodist College and Barack Seminary in Shreveport, Louisiana. A man in quest of academic excellence, Garrison earned a B.S., M.S., and D.D., as well as seven Ph.D.'s in Theology from various schools and seminaries.
In 1917, at the age of 13, Garrison professed Christ and was baptised at the Mayflower Baptist Church in Sligo, Louisiana. Garrison was re-baptised in Jesus Name in 1979 by Bishop Lewin at Christ Temple Apostolic Church, pastored by Bishop Stallworth, Sr., of Stockton, CA.
In 1921, at the age of 17, Garrison became a candy maker by trade. This skill followed him wherever he went. He was affectionately called the "Candy Man”

Dr. Ross D. Garrison Sr.
 

"PREACHER, BUILDER, AND APOSTLE INDEED" 1920 - 1982

 

Dr. Ross D. Garrison, St, was a man of great ambition, Vision, wisdom and dreams. The years 1920-1954 found him travelling, building churches, preaching and conducting revivals and seminars throughout Louisiana, Mississippi,
Texas and California.

As an Apostle, Dr. Garrison is accredited with establishing, building and pastoring many churches. During the late 30's and mid 40's the majority of the churches he established were in the Methodist Denomination. The four most prominent churches Dr. Garrison established are; Mt. Zion Methodist Episcopal Church of Vanceville, Louisiana during 1936 - 1939, New Light Methodist Episcopal Church of Rockmount, Louisiana during 1936-1938, The Estuary Community Church of Alameda, California during 1947-1950, and The Good Samaritan Baptist Church of Oakland, California during 1954-1982

This article was printed August 4, 1938 ...

"Something Went Wrong"

It was a bright sunny day in the month of December, 1935, in the Shreveport Monroe District, of which Dr. W.G. Alston was superintendent. At the Vanceville Methodist Episcopal Church, Vanceville, La., the Rev. J.D.H. Frazier, pastor, "something went wrong," and that something was: the church and parsonage were destroyed by fire.
The Rev. Frazier was away, and he and his good wife lost everything they possessed. The pastor and members were grief stricken over the loss of their church, but through the kindness of the Friendship Baptist Church, the congregation of Vanceville was made welcome to hold services there.
 

The Rev. Frazier and the loyal membership remained at Friendship for a period of ten months, but in the meantime they set about raising funds to rebuild the church and parsonage. Time moved on and ushered the ministers and lay delegates to the city of Lake Charles, La., where the sixty-ninth session of the Louisiana Conference was held by Bishop A.P. Shaw.

On November 1, 1936, the present pastor, the Rev. R.D. Garrison, was appointed to Vanceville.

Upon his arrival he found in the building fund $275, the chimney that was left by the fire, and a group of discouraged members. The amount in the building fund was raised during the administration of the Rev. Mr. Frazier. Pastor Garrison outlined his program, and the work began.
The Board of Home Missions and Church Extension donated $300. The pastor and members adopted a pay-as-you-go plan. With faith in God and in themselves, the "Walls of Zion" were restored.

One of the outstanding events during the construction of the church occurred last September, when the pastor presented a financial plan, vix., Thirty Captians' War, with $300 as the goal. When the smoke had cleared away, the captians and the friends of Vanceville had placed on the table $400.
The church was completed with about eighty-five per cent free labor, and the pastor donated thirty-five days, of his time, doing the painting of the church, with the members and friends, which saved the church the sum of $175. It was a glorious victory.

Vanceville is host to the Schreveport Monroe District Conference, the Rev. J. E. Brown, district superintendent. Everything is in fine shape for visitors and delegates. A piano has been purchased and paid for; 125 theater chairs purchased, and through the influence of the pastor, twenty chairs have been donated by Mr. Elzey, a white friend of Vanceville. Mrs. R.D. Garrison, the efficient wife of the pastor, is standing loyally by his side. She has charge of the music department of the church.
At present, she is working for a degree from Southern University.

August 4, 1938:
In the Southwestern rally just closed, Vanceville reported seventeen cash subscriptions through the efforts of the pastor, Southwestern committee, and friends. "Something went wrong, the church was destroyed by fire in 1935. Something went right, the church has been rebuilt during 1937-1938, at cost of $2,200 for building and fixtures.” That is the story of Vanceville Good Samaritan Baptist Church History .

In the year of 1954, the Lord once again dealt with Dr. RD. Garrison, Sr, and his wife, sis. Verdie L. Garrison, concerning the organization of another church. Together they began to seek the Lord by fasting and praying for the name and location of the church. God was faithful, the Lord gave Pastor Garrison the name "Good Samaritan". The location of the church was 821 Athens Avenue in Oakland, California.

The organization of the church was set-up by the late Rev. O.P. Smith, some of the members of the Bible Fellowship Baptist Church, the late Rev. Britton and Rev. Luther Rogers. The late Rev. C.A. Washington was pastor. Pastor Garrison made this new beginning with fifty
faithful members.

Starting from the ground, it required a lot of hard work and sacrifice. Pastor Garrison with the sale of his candy, and Sis. Verdie Garrison and Sis. Farland Jones selling turkey dinners raised $250.00. They purchased chairs for the sanctuary, and Sis. Jones donated her piano
to provide the music.

Rev. C.J. Anderson, pastor of the St. John Missionary Baptist Church, gave Pastor Garrison his first Pulpit made by one of the members of his church and some folding chairs.

The very same Pulpit given to Pastor Garrison 40 years ago to hold his Bible, is the same one that holds his son's Bible today; and for this we pause and say, "Thank You, Pastor Anderson, for sharing a part of your Ministry with us"!

Two years after the organization of Good Samaritan, the membership increased significantly to over five hundred members. Once again, we have witnessed the fact that "History Does Repeat Itself'. The life and fruit of a "Pastor, Preacher, Builder, and an Apostle" can yet be seen in this legacy, a man of God.

The meetings which were functioning at the time were: regular Worship Services, Sunday School Department, Baptist Training Union, Ministerial Staff, Deacon and Deaconess' Boards, Senior and Junior Usher Boards, Brotherhood, Women's Mission Circle, Pastor's Aid, Young People's Department, and last but not least; one of the Bay Area's renowned choirs, consisting of Seniors, Young Adults, and Juniors.

This church choir was blessed to have some of the best minstrels working with them; to name a few: Sis. Farland Jones, Sis. Verdie Garrison, Bro. Roger Pane, Sis. Lyons, Eld. Bobby Lyons, and Sis. Vera Earles, who served as our Minister of Music for over 30 years. "It was worth it all”.

​

Dr and Mrs. Garrison shared the Word of God with all they came in contact with. Their Ministry extended far beyond their local church and denomination. This was a fulfillment of the name "Good Samaritan. Because of their obedience to God, hundreds and even thousands of souls have been won to Christ. Lives have been healed and changed, families brought back together, ministers and ministries restored!

Rev. Landry, a close friend and pastor, brought his congregation to Good Samaritan and asked Pastor Garrison to shepherd them. He wanted to find them a church home before returning to Louisiana. This caused this ministry to grow to approximately 1,000 people.

Here was a man who in his day and time believed, the report of the Lord; how that in the last days, God would pour out of his Spirit upon all flesh, your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men dream dreams and your young men shall see visions.

This end time truth and revelation was embraced. Sons and daughters have always stood and preached, prophesied, received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, spoke with other tounges, laid hands on the sick and they recovered and the operation of the Ascension Gift Ministries, of (Eph. 4:11) and gifts of the Holy Spirit. All of this has made this ministry what it is today.

Pastor Garrison suffered two major heart attacks, was stricken with cancer, and began to lose his sight. He was determined by faith that, "I must work the works of Him that sent me while it is day: the night cometh and no man can work." (John 9:4), and "Ill let nothing separate me from the love of God." (Rom. 8:39)
In 1975, the Lord blessed Pastor Garrison and the church to purchase its present sanctuary.

With much work to be done before services could be rendered; Pastor Garrison, Bishop R.W. Harrison, Deacon Leroy Ainsworth, and the young people sometimes worked all day and occasionally, all night to finish the restoration project. As time progressed, neither the work nor the ideas to improve the interior ceased.

In 1982, Pastor Garrison's health began to fail. This caused him to retire from pastoring, but not from serving God. Still preaching, teaching, and taking public transportation as far as South San Francisco he visited the sick. He viewed his sickness as a stepping stone and not a stumbling block.

Pastor Garrison had a sense of humor that could not be denied. It was a known fact that you could not be around this man and be discouraged, down or depressed, without him getting you to laugh, smile, or cry for joy. This is the way he lived his life. "It takes more muscles to frown than to smile", one of Pastor Garrison's favorite sayings?

In 1985, he preached his last sermon "Almost Is Not Sufficient (Acts 26:28). On the following week he attended a revival held at the church conducted by Pastor Climmie Cooper of Miami, Florida. Not knowing that this would be his last time, he stood and talked to us like he had never done before. He turned, looked and gave us His Blessings.
On May 14, 1985, he called his wife and ten children as Jacob did, and foretold them what would befall them in the last days.. and surely as God lives, not a word of his has fallen to the ground. (Gen. 49:1)

This man, Dr. Ross D. Garrison, Sr., loved his wife"Cookie" and family. No matter where this man of Godwas, his focus was on his Family and his Church.
We have set aside this time to honor the legacy of Dr. Ross D. Garrison, Sr., from 1904-1985.
 

68 Years as a Christian
65 Years as a Preacher
50 Years as a Pastor
 

On May 15, 1985, Dr. R.D. Garrison, Sr, went home to be with the Lord.

We believe that He is rejoicing in glory, looking down upon this grand occasion.
 

FOR THESE PAST 40 YEARS,
TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR ThE ThINGS HE HAS DONE!