Collinsville/Meridian
Funeral Home
Robert Barham Family Funeral
Visitation
Jan 9, 2023, 11 am- 12:50 pm, Robert Barham Family Funeral
Service
Jan 9, 2023, 1 pm, Robert Barham Family Funeral
Obituary
Honoring a Fallen Hero, Who Served Within the Mississippi National Guard. “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten”
In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service which our military men and women have given to their country and our State, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard the memorializing of its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation.
Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on December 31, 2022, and has moved on to his heavenly home. SFC(Ret) Grayson “Norris” Galatas, age 60, a retired member of the MS Army National Guard, who had served within 150th Combat Engineer Battalion, 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, has departed and gone to a better place with our good Lord. Galatas was wounded in Iraq in 2005 by an IED and had spent over a year in Walter Reed Army Hospital after his injuries. Great Soldier, Great Man, Great Husband and a Great Dad.
It takes a special person to serve within the military for their country, giving up their family time, comfort, and safety for their country, ultimately for all Americans to enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country. A special message from General Douglas McArthur remains applicable today for our servicemen that have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away”.
Rest in Peace Soldier. We applaud your patriotism and brave efforts in serving our country and your family for their support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so bright and live so free.
You now have earned a rest, so go fly with the Angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ Love for the Father and the Son.
“Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten”
Obituary, visitation, and service details:
Services for SFC Grayson “Norris” Galatas, Jr. will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, January 9, 2023 at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with arrangements.
SFC Grayson Norris Galatas, Jr., age 60, of Collinsville, Mississippi passed away Saturday, December 31, 2022 at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
The son of Grayson Norris Galatas and Joan Rogers Galatas, Norris is survived by his wife, Janis W. Galatas and his siblings, George, Jeanine, Michael, Peggy and their families.
He was preceded in death by his father, Grayson Norris Galatas, Sr., and his mother, Joan Rogers Galatas.
Norris was a proud soldier, having served in the Army National Guard as a Combat Engineer and Chemical Ops specialist with the HHC 150th located in Meridian, MS. Norris served with distinction, having been recognized with the Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, and the Iraq Campaign Medal.
Despite a distinctive and honorable career of integrity and leadership within his 27 year career, Norris unfortunately suffered critical injuries during his service with Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005. He endured many years of reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation. With the help of his family, his friends, and the numerous dedicated medical specialists and support personnel who worked to improve his quality of life, Norris remained with us until his passing on December 31, 2022.
An Honor Guard will be present to recognize Norris’ many years of service to his nation.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests that donations can be made to the nonprofits that supported Norris’ and other soldiers and their families through the difficult times of deployment and recovery such as Wounded Minute Men of Mississippi, Project Healing Waters, NEADS.org, the Wounded Warrior Project, or the ASPCA.
The family will receive friends beginning at 11:00 a.m. prior to the celebration of life at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home, 6300 Highway 39 N, Meridian, Mississippi.
Online condolence may be expressed at www.robertbarhamffh.com.