Julia W Grooms

Julia Walker Grooms (Julie) passed away on December 14. She was born September 14, 1932 in Covington, TN, where she grew up and graduated from high school as valedictorian of her class. She attended Rice University with the aid of two scholarships and part-time work and graduated with a BA with honors in history. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Julie was elected to Owen Wister Literary Society and Rondelet May Day Court. While in college, Julie spent her summers working at Yellowstone National Park. It was at the park in 1953 that she met a handsome fellow employee, Hobart Grooms, Jr., a law student at the University of Alabama. They married in 1955.

She was preceded in death by Hobart, her beloved husband of 64 years. She is survived by her three sons, Bart (Lynda), Richard, and William (Martha). She leaves four grandsons, Walker, Owen, Wilkes, and Ward Grooms, and one granddaughter, her namesake, Julia Elizabeth Grooms, as well as nieces and nephews. Besides her parents she is predeceased by her sister, Shirley Walker Williamson and brother, William Owen Walker. Julie’s greatest joy in life was being a full-time mother to her three sons, and later a grandmother to five, all of whom lived in Birmingham.

In 1979 Julie joined Hospice of Montclair’s initial class of volunteers in Alabama’s first hospice organization. She served in various capacities and received its Service Award for her first 13 years of service. She was a Senior Sustaining member of Charity League, a lifetime member of Montclair/Trinity Hospital Auxiliary (now Grandview Hospital) and a lifetime member of Samford University’s Legacy League.

A longtime, active member of Brookwood Baptist Church, Julie taught Sunday School and served on the Monday Flower Ministry. Julie was a volunteer tutor with the Birmingham Baptist Association’s literacy program, teaching adults to read and preparing pupils for the G.E.D. exam. She was a volunteer at Emmett O’Neal Library and a graduate of the Famous Writers School.

Julie was a lover of history. She pursued that interest through reading, graduate courses at Samford University, and extensive travel, particularly to her favorite countries, France, England, Italy, and Russia.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Brookwood Baptist Church, 3449 Overton Rd., Mountain Brook, AL 35223 for its missions programs, Community Kitchens, or a charity of your choice.