Willie Curtis Grady

Willie Curtis Grady was born on December 6, 1940 in the small town of Wyatt MS. He was one of three children raised in the home of Ewell and Velda (Floate) Grady. He lived in Independence MS most of his childhood and grew up on a small dairy farm owned by his grandparents Homer and Mary Grady. His day began at 4am by milking cows and doing farm chores with his two sisters Helen and Midge. A covered pickup truck (which served as the neighborhood school bus) would stop by to take them on to school at the old Cockrum school house. He grew up very poor never having the luxury of a TV, air conditioning, running water, a refrigerator or even a flushing toilet. Homework was usually done by dark because the oil lamps didn’t put out good light. He enjoyed singing and playing the guitar, basketball, hunting and fishing in his younger years.

He Travelled Life's Pathways.....

After graduating high school Willie got a factory job at Light and Power Company in Olive Branch MS. It was here that he met his sweetheart Gloria Fay Payne. They were married on November 30th, 1963 at the young ages of 21 Willie and 19 Gloria and enjoyed 52 years of marriage together. They moved to Memphis for a year and then bought a home in Southaven. For the last 25 years they have lived on acreage in Olive Branch MS. Through the years they celebrated the birth of 3 children. They were blessed further with the addition of 8 grandchildren to carry on his legacy. Willie quickly realized factory work was not for him and went on to carpentry school shortly after marriage. He worked as an independent contractor most of his life and did not retire until age 70 as he truly enjoyed carpentry work. He enjoyed singing and playing guitar and even played on the radio. He raised quail, pheasants, rabbits, chickens, cows and bird dogs. Quail hunting was a passion for many years followed by a good coon hunt that night. A lifetime passion that he never gave up was gardening, fruit trees and more recently a cattle farm.

Touching The Lives of Others.....

Willie was a member of Cornerstone church in Southaven MS. He loved to spend time with all his family who lived nearby and saw each other almost daily. He loved to spend time talking with extended family and friends. He loved to talk! He loved to share how to "properly" garden and grow fruit. He loved life and was almost always upbeat and encouraging. He had a giving heart and was always looking for ways to help and bless others. May the memories of times together become treasures in the hearts of those he loved so dearly. He taught his family to ….."put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love which is the bond of perfection". Colossians 3:12-14

And Found Peace.....

At age 75 Willie lost his battle with leukemia and passed away on Monday September 12th at Baptist East hospital.

Survivors......

Wife; Gloria Grady

Children; Curtis Grady, Susan Grady, Debra Grady

Grandchildren; Ben Grady, Ethan Grady, Nick Hayes, Luke Grady, Madison Hayes, Grant Gill, Garret Gill, Grace Gill.

Sisters; Helen Heitkotter, Midge Davis

Preceded in Death by.....

His parents Ewell and Velda and grandparents Homer and Mary