Jim McGill Garland Elkins (1926-2016) was born near Woodbury, east of Nashville, August 19, 1926. He had four brothers and two sisters. His father and mother and all his grandparents were faithful Christians living in the community. His parents would often have preachers visiting in their home. His father and the visiting preacher would stay up late, talking about Christ and the church, and his daddy would let Garland stay up and listen to their conversations. Garland had been offered an athletic scholarship to a college he planned to attend. But he heard N. B. Hardeman preach. He was so impressed that he enrolled in Freed-Hardman College instead, graduating in 1951. He always continued to have a high regard for Hardeman. The Elkins Family Garland and Corinne were married 67 years. Their three daughters, Connie, Denise, and Jan, have established a scholarship at Memphis School of Preaching in honor of their parents. For the past twenty-six years until his recent death Garland se