Rev. Sidney Ray Grimes Sr.

Born in Altavista, Virginia on February 1, 1925, he was the son of the late James Button Grimes and Pearl Elizabeth Simmons Grimes Carpenter.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his seven siblings and his wife Nancy Leila Wilkes Grimes, whom he married on February 25, 1945. She passed away in 1998.

Rev. Grimes was always a bi-vocational pastor and served as a teacher at Oakwood Junior High School for 23 years. He also served in the ministry for over 40 years. During those years, he served Yadkin Baptist Church, West Asheboro Baptist Church, Society Baptist Church, Zion Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church.

He was a veteran of the United States Navy during World War II. He worked with Jewell Coffee Company in Silver Springs, Maryland and later operated Statesville Ornamental Iron Works. He graduated from Mars Hill College and Baylor University in Waco, Texas and attended Wake Forest University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Those left to cherish his memory are his children, Sidney R. Grimes, Jr. and wife Judith Kirkland Watts Grimes of Shreveport, Louisiana; Robert Wayne Grimes and wife Brenda Galliher Grimes of Statesville, NC and Deborah Leila Grimes Harris and husband Keith Harris, DDS of Newport, NC; grandchildren, Natalie Grimes Mallek of McHenry, Illinois, Gregory and Kristi Savat Grimes of Shreveport, Louisiana, Nathan and Kiley Fuller Grimes of Stonewall, Louisiana, Steven Grimes of Statesville, NC and Stephanie Grimes Gay of Greenville, NC. He is further survived by his great-grandchildren, Evelyn Nicole Grimes, Leila True Grimes and Alexis Leila Gay.

Funeral services will be private with burial at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to Hebron Kids or to Hebron Youth c/o Hebron Baptist Church 175 Hebron Road Statesville, NC 28625.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com.

Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of Rev. Sidney R. Grimes, Sr.