Dr. Raymond F. Grenfell

Dr. Raymond Frederic Grenfell, 92, died on April 5, 2010, at St. Dominic Hospital, after a brief illness. He was preceded in death by his wife, Maude Byrnes Chisholm Grenfell. Dr. Grenfell was born an only child to Elisha Raymond and Pearle Nelly in West Bridgewater, Pennsylvania. When Dr. Grenfell was 16 (during the Great Depression) his father passed away. He then began working in the mill for US Steel Corporation. Dr. Grenfell received a full Carnegie Scholarship which enabled him to earn Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine degrees from University of Pittsburgh.

During WWII, he enlisted and served as a Captain in Puerto Rico. After the war, Dr. Grenfell was transferred to Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C., where he met his future bride, Maude Byrnes Chisholm. They were married on August 19, 1944 in Columbia, S.C.

After an Honorable Discharge as a Major in 1946, they moved to Jackson, MS., where Dr. Grenfell began the private practice of medicine followed by the study of the drug treatment of hypertension. In 1955, Dr. Grenfell opened the Hypertension Clinic of the University School of Medicine which he maintained as Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine until 1979. From 1979 until his retirement in 1999, Dr. Grenfell limited his practice to the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.

During his work at the medical school, he was a pioneer in the double blind evaluation of many new antihypertensive drugs. Dr. Grenfell published many papers in the United States and Swiss journals. He was a member of many professional societies including American Medical Association, Southern Medical Association (Served as Counselor), American College of Chest Physicians, American Society of Hypertension and American College of Clinical Pharmacology.

Dr. Grenfell was a life deacon and long term member of the sanctuary choir of the First Baptist Church of Jackson. He also served as president of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra 1961-62.

He is survived by his 4 sons and their wives, Raymond Frederic Grenfell, Jr. (Pat), Milton Wilfred Grenfell (Gioia), James Byrnes Grenfell (Lynn), and Robert Chisholm Grenfell (Amy); 8 grandchildren: Ric Grenfell (Tracy), Matt Grenfell (Caroline), Sarah Grenfell, Catherine Grenfell, Robert Grenfell, Jr., Eleanora Grenfell, Mallory Bass, and Ross Bass and 2 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday from the Chapel of First Baptist Church Jackson. Visitation will begin at 12:30 PM Wednesday in the Chapel Parlor. Interment will follow the service in Lakewood Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.