Visitation will be 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and funeral service at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home on Highway 119 in Pelham, AL. A Celebration of Life Reception will follow for family and friends who wish to attend the burial service at Oak Hill Cemetery in Moundville, AL at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. Officiating will be Rev. Clyde Dutton of Meadow Brook Baptist Church, Birmingham, AL, and Rev. Donald Payne of Forest Lake Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, AL.
Jesse's family moved to the Belwood community, Cleveland County, NC, when he was four years old. Reared on a farm, he and his six brothers and five sisters faced times of hard work; however, there were pleasant and even funny experiences, too. When a student at Belwood High School, he played basketball and drove a school bus.
Jesse served in the U.S. Army Air Force prior to and during WWII. He became a staff sergeant in the officers' "mess." While stationed at Craig Air Force Base in Selma, AL, he met and married Inez Martin of Moundville, AL. When Jesse and Inez were stationed at the Marianna, FL Air Force Base, their one daughter, Joy, was born.
After WWII, they moved to Shelby, Cleveland County, NC, where Jesse began his career in the sales and service of farm equipment. The Griggs moved to Tuscaloosa, AL in 1951 to be closer to Inez's mother. Jesse continued working as a farm equipment salesman with Pittman Tractor Co., Thompson Tractor Co., and Park's Tractor Co. Later he was the west Alabama district representative for the Hester Battery Co.
Reared in the Methodist Church, Jesse became a Baptist after his marriage to Inez. He was active in Baptist churches for many years. He served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, on various committees, and on the Forest Lake Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, AL sanctuary building committee. The Lord and the church family were an important part of his life.
Jesse enjoyed vegetable gardening, woodworking, and was capable of constructing storage buildings, decks, and small pieces of furniture. After retiring in the early 1980s, the Griggs enjoyed camping in their travel trailer and visiting their daughter and her family in metro Atlanta, GA. They were especially pleased when Joy and Bill were transferred to Birmingham, AL in the late 1980s. After 56 years of marriage, Inez passed away in 1999. They had moved from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham one year earlier.
Jesse met and married the lovely and successful research business founder, Polly Real Graham, in 2000. Their 12-year marriage included many hours in the garden and some travel.
Remembered for his helpful nature, Jesse would arrive home a little early from his work to prepare the evening meal before Inez arrived home from her Southern Bell Telephone Co. job. Since Polly suffered from macular degeneration, he transported her to appointments, errands, and other places of interest most anytime she asked. He helped family and friends with their handy man projects on many occasions. He helped to construct a sunroom on his daughter's home. Being involved with meals-on-wheels was important to him also.
Mr. Grigg is predeceased by his parents, George Ivy Grigg and Johnnie Effie Shuford Grigg; his wife of 56 years, Lottie Inez Martin Grigg of Tuscaloosa, AL; brothers and sisters-in-law, Ivy Grigg (Jessie) of Farmville, VA, Max Grigg (Estelle) of Lawndale, NC, Craig Grigg (Mary) of Morganton, NC, Barney Grigg (Margaret) of Boone, NC, and Ruffin Grigg (Mary Lou) of Belwood, NC; and two-year-old brother, Javan Grigg of Belwood, NC. Jesse is also predeceased by sisters and brothers-in-law, Mamie Grigg Alwran (Dewey) of Morganton, NC, Maudie Grigg Shuford (Robert) of Lawndale, NC, Bertha Grigg Crowder (Durant) of Charlotte, NC, and Kathleen Grigg Wright (Woodrow) of Rocky Mount, NC; brother-in-law, Robert Parker of Shelby, NC; and step-son, Larry Graham of Birmingham, AL. He is also predeceased by sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law in the Martin, Latham, and Real families.
Jesse is survived by his wife, Polly Real Graham Grigg of Birmingham, AL; his daughter, Joy Marie Grigg Denton (Bill) of Birmingham; grandchildren, Kathryn Denton Acree (Adam) and William Drake Denton (Tiffany); great-grandchildren, Ashton and Erin Acree, and Carter, Caleb, Christian, Emma Grace, and Sophie Denton, all of Birmingham; sister, Madeline Grigg Parker of Shelby, NC; step-sons, Emris Graham (Sharon) of Mountain Brook, AL, and Charles Graham (Janet) of Elberta, AL; step-daughter, Sue Graham Anderson (John) of Crawfordville, FL; step-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the fifth floor assisted living nurses and care givers of Mount Royal Towers and Evercare Hospice Services for the care and comfort they gave to Mr. Grigg.
Memorials may be made to Meadow Brook Baptist Church, 4984 Meadow Brook Road, Birmingham, AL 35242, or Forest Lake Baptist Church, 107-18th Street, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401.
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