Sara "Lillian" Garrett Bean

Sara "Lillian" Garrett Bean, age 81, born April 11, 1943, passed away peacefully December 11, 2024, at her home surrounded by her family. She grew up in Mt. Olivet Christian Church in Rose Hill, VA, and later became a member of Glenwood Baptist Church in 1968. Preceded in death by her mother and father, Mildred Hounshell Garrett and Fred Garrett, two sisters, Elizabeth Ann Garrett Fortner, and Charlsie Garrett Breeding.

Survived by husband of 56 years Richard L. Bean, one son R. Garrett Bean and wife Tammy, two daughters Sara Lynn Bean, Rebecca Ann Bean Headrick and husband Larry, five grandchildren Samantha Bean, Savannah and Tommy Sweat, Olivia and Wesley Headrick and a host of cousins, relatives, and friends.

She was the former Knox County Circuit, General Sessions, and Juvenile Court Clerk, an office she held for 18 years, and she served with great integrity and pride. She was truly a public servant of the people. She was a great leader of the Republican Party in Knox County. She served as President in most all of the Republican clubs here. She was a member of Knoxville Women’s Club for some 25 years and served as President, and many other offices in the Women’s Club. She was given the honor of “Woman of the Year” three times by the Knoxville Women’s Club for her volunteer spirit, and was honored by the American Business Women’s Association-Sunsphere Chapter, as Woman of the Year. She was a member of the General Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Star, Cumberland 170 Chapter.

Other Honors: YWCA Tribute to Women, served as Chairman of Ways & Means-GKWC Smoky Mountain Division, Republican Officeholder of the Year-2 years by the Republican Party of Knox County. She was in the Leadership Knoxville Class of 1996.

She graduated from Thomas Walker High School in 1961 and graduated from National Business College in 1963. She never forgot her first home away from home when she came to Knoxville in 1961-the YWCA-where she lived for 4 years while in school, and annually held Chair parties for them, with proceeds from selling beans & cornbread at the Fall Festival at the Appalachian Museum. She did this for some 25 years.

She enjoyed assistant coaching her children in Junior Pro basketball and also enjoyed watching her grandchildren playing sports.

The family will receive friends from 1:00pm-3:00pm on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at Mt. Olivet Christian Church, 2094 Old Nursery Road Rose Hill, VA 24281, followed by a 3:00pm funeral service with Rev. Ronnie Sizemore and Doug McConnell officiating. The family will then receive friends from 5:00pm- 7:00pm on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at Mynatt Funeral Home-Powell Chapel, followed by a 7:00pm funeral service, with Rev. Richie Beeler, Billy Stokes and Chad Tindell officiating. 

 Family and friends will meet at 11:30am on Thursday, December 19, 2024, at Mynatt Funeral Home- Powell Chapel to leave in procession for an 12:30pm committal service at the East TN Veterans Cemetery.

Pallbearers: Tommy Sweat, Larry Headrick, Billy Stokes, John Valliant, Warren Payne, Lynn Tarpy, Nick McBride, and Chad Tindell