James Wells Garrod

James Wells Garrod
July 10, 1959 – December 16, 2025

James Wells Garrod was born on July 10, 1959, in Petaluma, California, to Gerald and Lorraine Garrod. He was the youngest of three children, joining his sister Connie and brother Billy. The family made their home in Rohnert Park, California, where James grew up in the easy sunlight of 1960s California.

As a boy, James played Little League baseball, rode his Sting Ray bicycle through neighborhood streets, and discovered a love for music that would stay with him for the rest of his life. Music became both his refuge and his voice. Over the years, he wrote and performed many original songs centered on faith, family, and the world as he saw it.

James’s life was not without struggle. He faced long battles with addiction that led to periods of incarceration and many years in recovery programs. Despite these hardships, he continued to return to music and faith as anchors. He spent several years at the Bread of Life in Seattle, Washington, where he performed in the first Out of the Alley homeless outreach show at Pioneer Park. During that time, he also shared his music with residents of assisted living facilities throughout the area.

Throughout his life, James was involved with several churches, including Mars Hill Church in Seattle and Gethsemane Discipleship Ministries in Shelton, Washington. Shelton ultimately became the place where James found a lasting sense of peace and belonging. He helped run the Shelton Music Store for several years and became a familiar and beloved presence in the local music scene.

While living in housing provided by Gethsemane, James twice awoke to fire alarms as the buildings he occupied were burning—experiences that became part of the many stories he carried with him. In his final two years, James resided at Maple Glen Assisted Living Facility in Shelton, where he continued to share music with friends and fellow residents, bringing comfort and joy through song. There he met Wilma Pogue.
A special friend with whom James spent his last happy months.

James will be remembered for his resilience, his faith, and his lifelong devotion to music. He is deeply missed by his family and by a wide circle of friends whose lives were touched by his honesty, creativity, and enduring spirit.