Dave Garriga

Dave was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on January 18, 1948 to Emmitt and Louise Garriga.  At the age of 13,

he moved to Clinton where he made many life-long friends. 

After graduating from CHS he received his graduate and undergraduate degrees from Ole Miss.  Dave enjoyed

a long and successful career in economic development, which took him from North Carolina, Mississippi,

Alabama and finally to Georgia.  In 1983, he became a Certified Economic Developer through the American

Economic Development Council; at the time, one of only 250 in the United States.  He was respected by

colleagues in every place he worked and achieved a great deal in this demanding and challenging field.  Dave

retired as director of the Americus-Sumter County Payroll Development Authority in March 2013. 

Though he had been away from his boyhood home of Clinton for more than 25 years, Dave would often reminisce

of growing up in his quiet hometown and his days of good times, old friends and his family.  He was the master

of telling the Garriga family stories and kept them eternally in touch with their always colorful past.  Dave was

always the entertainer, the center of any room.  Humor was just who he was and his family thanks God for that.

Dave loved music and was a talented guitar player, singer and songwriter.  Over the years at family gatherings,

as well as with friends, he would pull out his guitar and sing, sometimes joined by his son, Kyle and daughter,

Sara Beth.  Music was in his bones.  In years past, he was even known to jam at local clubs.  He sang everything

from Elvis to Clapton to McCartney.  The Beatles were his favorite band. 

He passed away Sunday, May 24, 2015 at home after a lengthy illness.  Dave was survived by his wife, Rhonda

Gail Geiger-Garriga; his daughter, Sara Beth Pillow (John Michael) of Yazoo City; his son, Kyle Garriga

(Elizabeth Coody Garriga) of Birmingham, AL; two brothers, Joe Garriga of Cantonement, FL and Doug Garriga

(Beverly) of Acworth, GA; a sister, Suzi Garriga Nyberg (Don) of Clinton; three grandchildren:  Anne Elise, Lilly

and Owen Pillow.