retiring in December of 1994 . Zachary Way is now a piece of local history lost to time itself , as the alleyway just off the Fountain Square has since been torn down to make way for the Judicial Center Plaza .
Habitat ' s team learned about Garrett when researching another earlier Buffalo Soldier from the area , Brent Woods . Jon Roberts , head of the Veterans Task Force for the local Habitat for Humanity board , read up on Garrett and " felt as if ( he ) was meeting an old friend ," as he put it at the April 2024 groundbreaking for the Veterans Village .
The next step was to reach out to Garrett ' s family , and in speaking to another notable member of Somerset ' s African-American community , Dr . Elaine Wilson , to try to reach them , Roberts learned that Garrett lived very near where the Veterans Village would be built .
" When Jon Roberts and ( local board vice president ) Chad Tyner came to see me , they told me what their plans were and that they wanted to honor Louis Garrett , and I thought they couldn ' t find anybody better ," said Wilson , who had been friends with Garrett ' s family going back many years — she was even a birthday party invitee of Garrett ' s wife , Maxine .
" Being a veteran , and being so good and wonderful to everybody , I thought he was the perfect candidate " to have the project named in his honor , said Wilson of Garrett .
Maxine passed away in May of 2024 — but not before she was able to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Louis D . Garrett Veterans Village last April . The fact that she was able to be there for the occasion was special not only for her , but for her friends and family alike , many of whom were also in attendance .
" We ( made ) sure we invited ( Maxine Garrett )," said Wilson . " I was excited about the fact that ( Garett ' s family ) agreed to even participate . They thought it was a wonderful thing . ... For Ms . Maxine to have the energy to come down here for the groundbreaking , it was great ."
" It was very meaningful ," said Carter of the dedication . " Growing up , we never realized what our daddy had done . Now , seeing that and being a witness to how people feel about him is what ' s great .
" We are so glad that ( Maxine ) was able to be there ," added Carter . " She wasn ' t well at the time , but she said , ' I ' ve got to be there ,' and she was there ."
Speaking to the Commonwealth Journal in April , Maxine Garrett said , " I think today is a wonderful day , and my husband wouldn ' t have missed it for the world . ... It is a very big honor ."
Bill Garrett , son of Maxine and Louis , also spoke to the Commonwealth Journal in April , saying , " Anything that has to do
The Louis D . Garrett Veterans Village opened in October of 2024 , as seen here from Bourne Avenue .
Photo by Christopher Harris
Somerset Mayor Alan Keck presents Maxine Garrett with the American flag flown in honor of her late husband , Buffalo Soldier and longtime Somerset tailor Louis Garrett at the April 2024 Veterans Village groundbreaking .
Photo by Christopher Harris
with veterans , to help them out , is great . ... ( Louis Garrett ) was all about veterans ."
Kristi Phillips , local Habitat for Humanity board president , called it " awesome " that Maxine could attend the dedication shortly before she passed away ; " I consider it a privilege that I got to talk to her about what that meant to her ," said Phillips .
The project has been a success , and the housing has " worked out great " for the three local veterans to move in , said Phillips . Habitat for Humanity of Pulaski County is hoping to build another such veterans village elsewhere in downtown Somerset in 2025 , she noted .
Garrett ' s legacy is one of skill — earning a sterling reputation as a tailor by people from all walks of life at a time when it was much harder for African-Americans to succeed , particularly in small southern communities — and of wisdom ; in speaking about him , Carter recalled the advice he ' d always pass along , such as not leaving a job , even if she couldn ' t stand it , unless she had something else lined up .
It is those qualities , along with the bravery and dedication to his country Garrett showed serving in the Army , that makes him an important figure to remember not just for Black History Month , but at all times — and having his name on the sign for the Louis D . Garrett Veterans Village is a fitting way to keep it in the community ' s memory for all the years to come .
February 2025 SEKY - Southeast Kentucky Life • 27