Grace Mildred Meyer

Grace was born in San Antonio, Texas, March 26th, 1923, to Ruth and Henry Smith, but lived most of her life in her beloved Jacksonville, Florida. She graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville in 1940, where she was a cheerleader.

Grace married Charles Roderick Meyer in 1992 in Rochdale, England. They traveled abroad, entertained family and friends, spent summers in the Carolina mountains, played golf and tennis, and danced. When Grace and Rod stepped on to the dance floor, they were the center of attention.

She was a longtime supporter of numerous local and national charities and served on the board of the Lighthouse for the blind in St. Augustine. The Palms Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville Beach was a very important part of her life for many years, where Sunday services were always a major inspiration for her.

A self-made woman, Grace learned everything about the hospitality industry working as a waitress and hostess at the very popular Sea Turtle Restaurant in Atlantic Beach and was also a co-founder of Jacksonville’s flagship Woody’s BBQ. Many of the recipes still used in the very successful BBQ chain were created by Grace.

Despite her many successes in life, Grace remained a humble, generous and loving woman who seemed to care more about others than herself. She had a wonderful sense of humor and always had a posse of younger women who looked to her as their mentor, second mother, and best friend.

Grace loved life and loved people, but above all she loved the Lord and her family. She was a beautiful spirit who will be forever in our hearts. We will miss our loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.

Grace is survived by her devoted husband of 30 years, Rod Meyer; her sons Philip (Sandy) Mills, and Woody (Ellen) Mills of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; daughter Sherron Mills of San Francisco, CA; grandchildren Sherry Einbinder, Kimberly Palusak, John Hodges, Benjamen Hodges, Andrew Hull, Paolo Ferretti and Craig Papero; twelve great grandchildren; three great, great grandchildren; three nieces; and one nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ruth and Henry Smith Sr., brothers, James and Henry Smith, and her loving daughter, Alda Mills.

The family would like to thank the staff of McGraw Community Hospice for their wonderful care of our beloved Grace.

A private family service will be held in the future.

Donations may be given to Community Hospice McGraw Center for Caring, 4715 Worrall Way, Jacksonville, FL 32224, in lieu of flower

Arrangement are under the care and direction of HARDAGE-GIDDENS FUNERAL HOME In Jacksonville Beach FL.