My great-grandmother, Louise Garnett was born September 7, 1887, in Bellville, Austin County, Texas, the daughter of former slaves Charlie Garnett and Jane Travick (Wade). Louise grew up in the Ives Creek Community where she labored doing farm work on the family property her maternal grandparents, Frank & Mary Travick purchased in 1871. Family members affectionately called her "Mickey" a nickname given to her by her favorite Uncle and Aunt, Mark & Martha (Travick) Slater.

Louise attended Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Bellville, Texas where she was baptized at an early age. According to the transcription on the cornerstone located in front of the church, Louise worked as the church secretary in 1912 under the leadership of Reverend *Insert Name*. She didn't have much of a formal education but she did learn to read and write, according to the 1940 U.S. Census the highest grade level she achieved was the 3rd grade. …show more content…
She also helped raise her niece, Idell Collins as the child's mother, Rosie (Garnett) Smith and her husband decided to move to Houston, Texas and did not want to uproot Idell from her family and the only place she had known. Louise's older brother, Nelson Garnett lived in Houston for several years but as his health declined he eventually moved back to Bellville where Louise cared for him in until he passed on July 6,