b'Alecia Weeks Garrick: Pastor, Wife, Mother, Grandmother By Debra YoungNooneismorekeenlyawareofthechallengesNot wanting to walk in her mothers shoes, Garrick womencalledtotheministryencounter,thanDr.saysshechosesinging.SingingR&Bandgospel AleciaWeeksGarrick,Pastoropenedmanydoorsforme, ofKingdomHarvestChurchrecallsGarrick.Shesaysshe inHopkins,SC.Thestoryofturneddownsingingwitha Garricksresponsetohercalliscoupleofprominentgroups, acaptivatingone.Herjourneybecausebeingayoungbride began in two phases, starting at aand mother she was not willing young age.Her father was a leadtoleaveherfamilytoperform. singerfortheSouthernaires,aGarrickgotmarriedtoLarry quartet in Columbia, SC.At ageGarrickandbecameamomat threesherecallswatchinghimage 19.Between trying to deal sing and interact with the crowdwith being a mom and wife on atconcerts.Garricksharedthattop of still grieving her mothers inthe1980shermotherwasdeath,Garricksaysshehada one of the first female evangelistlotofstuffgoingonmentally. atFriendshipBaptistchurchDespitehowsomefeelabout inHopkins.Growingupasaseekingcounseling,shelearned child she remembers that all shethat there is nothing wrong with couldthinkaboutwassinging.seeking help through counseling. The last thing on my mind wasIwasabletoprocessmy preachingtheGospelbecauseIfeelingsatdifferentstages,in saw what it did to my mother mylifebecauseitsnothing thehurt,thethingsshewentwrongwithhavingJesusanda throughandthestressitcausedher,rememberedtherapist, Garrick smiled.Garrick.As a female coming up in that era, Garrick explained,womenwerenotallowedinthepulpit,The Birth of Her Ministrysotheyhadtopreachfromapodium.OnetimeDecidingnottopursueasingingcareer,Garrick sheremembershermotherworkedasacorrectionsofficer preachingoutsideunderawiththeSCDepartmentof tree.Atage16GarricksMy passion is to minister toCorrections for 13 years.During motherdiedofLupus,whichpeople during their time ofhertimethereshesaysshe Garrickattributesinparttouncertainty and God alwaysgainedthetrustoftheinmates therejectionandstressofnotandwasabletorelatetothem being accepted.When Garrickgives me the right words toinwaystheotherofficerscould protestedaboutthetreatmentsay to help get them throughnot. There was even one instance her mother received, she recallsthe hardest and darkest timeswhenshesaidshewasable hermothertellingher,youtoconvinceaninmatenotto arenotresponsibleforhowof their lives. takeherlife. Itwastherethat peopletreatyou,butyouare Pastor Alecia Weeks Garrickmyministrywasbirthed,she responsibleforhowyoutreatsaid.Afterleavingcorrections, people. 8IMARA'