On Monday morning, February 15, 2021, Maxine M. Grier, went home to be with the Lord in Spokane, WA at the age of 91.
She was born in Orangeburg, SC to Dewey Jenkins and Annie Moore, the oldest of six children. She was a migrant worker early in life in South Carolina moved in 1950 Pittsburg, PA for a better life. In 1954, she moved to Holyoke, MA, where she worked as a domestic worker. It was here that she met her husband, Watkins Grier, at Westover Air Force Base.
Watkins and Maxine were married in 1958 and to this union were five children, Ramona, Paul, Judy, Robin and Allison, joining Larry and Mary Beth Jenkins. Mr. Grier received orders to Fairchild AFB in late October, 1961 and the family moved to WA state. Maxine worked at the IBM building as a janitor and later at Whitworth College as a house mother in the Baldwin Jenkins and Mc Millan dorms at Whitworth College. Mr. Grier loved sports and coached an American Legion baseball team, the Industrial Mets. He was called to a tour in Viet Nam in the summer of 1969 and Maxine was suddenly the coach of the team. The team went on to win a championship that summer.
In October 1973, Mr. Grier was involved in a tragic accident at FAFB that eventually took his life. On March 16, 1974, Maxine was left to raise 5 children with an 8th grade education. She began her career in1975 in Food Supervision at Eastern State Hospital and enrolled in night school to receive her GED and then to college at SCC. She graduated with an AA in March 1982 and eventually transferred to Lakeland Village, where she retired in 1997.
She became a member of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in the 60’s, where she had been an active member for many years until her failing health took its toll.
Mom held many positions in the church including the Dorcas Circle, the Gospel Choir Sharing and Caring ministry at Morning Star and many meals were prepared by Sister Grier and her daughter Judy for potlucks and anniversaries.
She was also involved in the community. Her contributions included the Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, League of Women Voters, NAACP, The Dietary Managers Association, and the old East Side Community Center that was on E. Sprague Avenue.
She had a host of friends of all ages and was known to many as Grandma Grier.
She leaves to mourn her passing, her children - Larry D Moore, Mary Beth Grier, Ramona (Curt) Boyd, Judy Grier, Robin Grier and Allison James, grandchildren Aaron Elliot, Renee Wilcoxen, Michael Boyd, David James, Paul Knox, and Will and Teresa Boyd and five great grandchildren. She is survived by one brother, Le Grant Moore, of MS. and one very special cousin. Delores (Lois)Gager Heard, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, SSgt Watkins Grier, her son Paul and her grandson Terrin, one sister,Lee Dell Rowe, three brothers, Johnny, Harry, and Henry Clay Moore.
Mother, you have left a beautiful memory, a sorrow too great to be told, But to us, who loved and lost you, your memory will never grow old.
The family wishes to acknowledge the friendship, gestures, generosity, sympathy and guidance and most of all your prayers.
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