Mary Ellen Grant

Mary Grant died Friday, June 26, 2015 at Oak Grove Manor in Waynesboro. Mary was born in Vesuvius, Virginia on July 19, 1914, a daughter to the late Walter and Mattie Sorrels. As a young girl, she moved to Roanoke with her family. She married and moved to Waynesboro with her husband Clarence Grant in 1938. In 1957, after raising her two children to high school age, Mary went to work at White's, later renamed Southern Department Store where she became a local fixture as head of the Lingerie Department until the 1980's. During this time, Mary came to know a truly astounding number of Waynesborians, all of whom were taken with her smile and good service.

In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Clarence, following sixty-seven years of marriage; her brothers, Lyle Sorrels and Roy Sorrels; as well as her sisters, Marie Smith, Hettie Philpot and Carol Jarrett. Mary is survived by her son, Douglas Grant and his wife, Linda of Virginia Beach; her daughter, Velma Ryan and her husband, Kevin of Waynesboro; her sister, Dolly Campbell of Long Beach, California; her grandchildren, Donna Grant of Williamsburg, John Grant of Virginia Beach and Duff Ryan of San Francisco; her great-granddaughters, Mimi Samson-Ryan of Oakland, California, Brittany Gloshen and Tiffany Porter, both of Virginia Beach; and her great-great granddaughter Rylie Gloshen, also of Virginia Beach.

Mary's family expresses a special thanks to Anna Rose, for the ten years of loving help she gave to Mary, and also to the staff at Oak Grove Manor for the care and affection they extended to Mary during her time with them.

A funeral service will be held at 2pm on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 at the Waynesboro Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes. Family and friends will be welcome at the funeral home, Monday, June 29, 2015 for visitation from 7pm until 8pm.

Contributions and memorials in memory of Mary may be made to the charity of your choice.