Jessie Egerton Lawson Grimsley

Entered into eternal rest on the morning of July, 27, 2010, Jessie Egerton Lawson Grimsley, wife of Major General James Alexander (Alex) Grimsley, Jr., US Army (Retired).  Residence, Charleston, SC.  The relatives and friends of Major General and Mrs. James Alexander (Alex) Grimsley Jr. are invited to attend the funeral services of the latter Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at Nine-fifteen o'clock in the Chapel at Bishop Gadsden.  A reception will follow in Blackmer Hall.  Burial will be at Two- thirty o'clock in Beaufort National Cemetery.

Jessie Lawson Grimsley was born in Florence, SC, on November 16, 1923, the fourth of five children of the late Elizabeth Davis Lawson and David Ewing Lawson.   She attended Anderson College, and returned home to Florence to work for the Department of Social Services.

During the Second World War, she began corresponding with her best friends' brother, James Alexander Grimsley, Jr. (Alex).  Out of that correspondence grew a love that would last a lifetime.  Upon his return from the Pacific Theater, they became engaged and were married on December 8, 1945, at the First Presbyterian Church in Florence.

Throughout her adult life, she personified the Army wife, by looking after the family needs through their many moves in both the United States, Europe, and Asia and during Alex's short and long deployments.  She also carried out the many volunteer roles of an Army wife, helping to ensure the well-being of the wives and families of the soldiers' under her husband's command;  and she always became actively involved in whatever community she lived.  She was a Red Cross volunteer, a member of altar guilds at all of their postings, a PTA parent, a scout mother (den and brownie), and whatever other needs each community presented. 

After her husband retired from the Army to come to the Citadel, she enthusiastically returned to her native State.  In 1980, she happily took on the role of First Lady of the Citadel, and considered the well-being of the cadets her first priority.  She actively supported all the cadet events, made certain her home was open to the cadets, and was a constant presence on the campus.  In addition, she served on numerous Charleston community boards, including the Association for the Blind and the Long Range Planning Committee for the Episcopal Home (Bishop Gadsden), and received the Palmetto Award for service to the state of South Carolina.

Most of all, she will be remembered by family, friends, and strangers for her grace and warmth, who made all feel welcome in her home and community, and for reaching out to those in need.  

Jessie Grimsley is survived by her husband, Maj. Gen. James Alexander Grimsley, Jr. (US Army, Retired) of Charleston, SC, and three children, James A. Grimsley III of Beaufort, Anne Lawson Grimsley Bander of Raleigh, NC, and Maj. Gen. William F. Grimsley of Fort Hood, TX.  She is also survived by seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren:   Dr. Anne Cook (and Dr. Wesley Cook and their son, Reed);  David Grimsley (and Agatha and their son, Otis);  Margaret Grimsley Antelme (and Charles);  Elizabeth Bander Everette (and Bryan), Ari Lawson Bander, Ben Grimsley (and Betsy), and Luke Grimsley.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Bishop Gadsden Residents Assistance Fund, 1 Bishop Gadsden Way, Charleston, SC 29412 or St. Michael's Episcopal Church Endowment, 71 Broad Street, Charleston, SC 29401 and The Citadel Development Foundation, James A. and Jessie L. Grimsley Scholarship Fund, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29401.

Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL. 

A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com .