Frances Merle Grigsby

Merle was a long-time resident of Clinton, MD, died Thursday, March 18th, from COVID-19 at the Prince Georges Medical Center.

Born September 29, 1927 in Pickens County, South Carolina, Merle was one of 13 children of Dallie and Robert Chappell. As a teenager Merle worked at her oldest brother’s Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street in downtown Pickens which was renowned for serving incredible hamburgers and hotdogs topped with the best hotdog chili Pickens. It was in Pickens where she met her future husband, Don Grigsby. Her husband joined the Marine Corps where they started their family at Camp Lejeune. Four years later they relocated to the Maryland area where they raised their family and lived their lives.

Her interests included family, cooking and feeding her family very well, gardening, canning vegetables, playing slot machines and the love of her grandkids and great grandkids. She loved to spend time in Ocean City, Maryland where she loved the beach and the ocean. She devoted much of her time and energy as a homemaker and raising her family of three boys.

She is survived by her three sons, Michael, Rob and Todd, daughter in-laws Ginny and Brenda as well as grandchildren Heather, Crystal, Michelle, Amber, Matt and Brandon and great grandchildren Stellan, Ronin, James and Adelynn. She is also survived by her sisters, Georgia, Margaret, Joyce, Geraldine and her brother, Junior.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald, brothers Leland, Clinton, Jay, Buren, Craig and sister Lois.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 17, 2021, at 2 p.m. in the Dillard Funeral Home chapel with Reverend Roland Bearden officiating.