Janelle Brown Remembers Her Son Garrison on His First Christmas Since His Passing

Christmas 2024 was bittersweet for Janelle Brown as she celebrated for the first time after the death of her son, Garrison Brown. The Sister Wives star took a moment during the holiday festivities to honor him on her Instagram Stories, PEOPLE reported.

Janelle shared a series of family photos from Christmas Eve 2023, expressing her deep feelings. "Miss you so much sweetheart," she wrote. "I am so beyond grateful we were all together last year and got pictures."

The first image featured Janelle with all six of her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren. In a touching second photo, Garrison shared a kiss with her on the cheek.

Garrison passed away in Arizona on March 5, as reported by the Flagstaff Police Department. Officers confirmed his brother Gabriel, 23, found him deceased at their home. The police later ruled his death a suicide. Janelle and her ex-husband Kody Brown publicly expressed their sadness on Instagram.

"We are deeply saddened to announce Garrison's loss," they stated. "He was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew him. His absence creates a big hole in our lives." They requested privacy while honoring his memory.

Reflecting on the tragedy, Janelle shared with PEOPLE that Garrison's death blindsided the family. He had seemed very upbeat in the months leading to his passing. "We just had no idea that he was in that place," she remarked, noting that substance abuse might have contributed to his struggles. Surprisingly, Garrison had never expressed extreme sadness.

As she recalled, Garrison frequently communicated with loved ones and seemed optimistic about his future. "I thought maybe he was starting to gain momentum," she explained. The shocking turn of events left a profound impact on her family.

His death served as a wake-up call for Janelle and her family. They have since changed how they communicate, conducting "real check-ins" during their conversations. "We’re very real, and we assess," she stated. "We talk about mental health openly and listen closely, ensuring we don’t just gloss over it. We are prioritizing mental health in our family."

Earlier, SSP wrote that Kaley Cuoco celebrated Christmas with Tom Pelphrey and her daughter Matilda.