Obituary of Louvenia Armstrong

Louvenia Prince "LP" Armstrong-Garrett COLUMBIA - Louvenia Armstrong-Garrett, 77, affectionately known as LP, died December 21, 2012, after several years of declining health. She was born August 27, 1935, in Gurley, SC, to the late Cornie Strickland Prince and Marvin Prince. LP was preceded in death by her husband, John S. Garrett; her sister, Mary Hughes; and her brother, Edwin Prince. LP is survived by her daughter, Bonnie Austin of Columbia; her two grandchildren, Rachel and Allyson; her stepdaughter, Annette Towne and husband Guy of Raleigh, NC; her two stepgranddaughters, Meredith Railey and husband Matt of Cary, NC, and Lauren Crow and husband Wilson of Raleigh, NC; her two stepgreat-grandchildren, Jackson Crow and Miles Railey; her stepson, Alan Armstrong of Alexandria, VA; her brother, Billy Prince of Loris, SC; and also her fiance, Kenneth Laurens of Columbia. LP, fun-loving and mischievous, graduated from Loris High School and came to Columbia at the age of 18 to attend Columbia Commercial College. She quickly rose from her first job as a secretary to become the co-founder and president of General Sales Company from 1957 to 1998. Her career objective to blend her faith in people with natural enthusiasm and a comprehensive response from every encounter with every client helped to create a successful southeastern restaurant products and service enterprise. As if General Sales did not keep her busy, LP was also president of Factory Agencies, Inc., a female-owned corporation, and, additionally, President of Associate Management, Inc. In spite of her heavy commitments to her businesses, LP shared her spare time, talents and experiences with a variety of organizations. Former Governor James Edwards chose her to serve on Richland-Lexington Counties Commission for Technical Education of which she eventually became the first female Chairman of the Board. Former Governor Richard Riley appointed LP to serve on the Business-Legislative-Education Partnership Committee. LP has the distinct honor of becoming the first female president of the Columbia Sales & Marketing Executives Association. She was past president of Professional Secretaries International and past chairman of Rocky Bottom Camp of the Blind. She has been a member of the board of directors of Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Community Care, Inc., Columbia College Board of Visitors and a trustee of the United Way of the Midlands. In her 41 years' business and professional career, LP won numbers awards and honors such as, Secretary of the Year, Dedicated Service to the Blind Award, Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce's Business Person of the Year, and Distinguished Service Award by Columbia Sales & Marketing Executives Association. Until LP's confinement in Wildewood Downs nursing facility, she was an active member of Kilbourne Park Baptist Church where she was a member of the Church Choir. Music was always an integral part of LP's life. One of the real joys at the nursing facility was the day Rev. Stuart Thompson, Director of Music at Kilbourne Park Baptist, held a special concert for LP and other patients. LP attributes her faith with her successes in life and her upbeat attitude. Funeral service conducted by Rev. Terry Smoak, Pastor of Kilbourne Park Baptist Church, Dr. Jim Hammond, LP's Sunday School teacher, and Rev. Stuart Thompson, Director of Music at Kilbourne Park Baptist, will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 23 at Greenlawn Funeral Home, followed with burial in Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family will have visitation following the burial at the graveside. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to Federation Center of the Blind, 119 S. Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29205 or to Kilbourne Park Baptist Church's Choir, 4205 Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29206. Honorary pallbearers will be LP's Sunday School Class. Pallbearers will be LP's nephews: Joe Hughes, Howard Hughes, Kevin Smith and Kris Smith.