Mrs. Elaine Barrett Grant, daughter of the late Ethel B. Greene and Raymond E. Fields, was born in Norfolk, Virginia on October 17, 1933. She peacefully entered into eternal rest on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at her home.
Mrs. Grant was nurtured in the elementary schools of Norfolk, Va., and Statesville, N.C. She graduated from the high school at Mary Potter Academy in Oxford, N.C. She received her bachelor’s degree from Allen University in Columbia, S.C., and her master’s degree at North Carolina A & T State University in Greensboro, N.C. Her tenure as an educator spanned some thirty-two years, including two years in Columbia, S.C., two years in Munich, Germany, and twenty-eight years in the Statesville City School System at A. D. Rutherford and N. B. Mills Elementary Schools.
Her other accomplishments was a Girl Scout Leader in Munich, Germany. She served as an officer in NCAT, president and organizer of the Ebony Socialite Club, co-chairperson of the UNCF, and president of the Jolly Citizens. She served as a member of the Civic Center Community, treasurer of the Malissa Chapter OES #28, member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 217, and president of the Bristol Road Senior Citizens. Mrs. Grant was a member of the Mt. Pleasant A.M.E. Zion Church, where she served as leader of Leaders, and member of the Trustee Board.
She was the wife of Mr. Kenneth L. Grant Sr., who preceded her in death. A daughter, Millicent Elaine, Grant, and a sister, Doris Greene, also preceded her in death.
Mrs. Grant leaves to celebrate her life three children, Karen Grant Brooks of Norfolk, Va., Kenneth (Pamela Daye) Grant Jr. of Statesville, N.C., and Tonia Grant Morrison of Statesville, N.C.; two god daughters, Shirley (Paul Corbin) Grant-Corbin and Pastor Shirley Walker Stevenson, both of Statesville; N.C.; seven grandchildren, Eric Grant, Dennis Scott, Lakesha Pride, Kenisha Hyman (Mareon), Kayla Daye, Sasha Daye and Courtney Morrison; nine great grandchildren, Mekiaun Davis, Brandon Adams, Kiersten Pride, Kendall Davis, Eric Grant, Jayden Hyman, Christopher Adams, and Olivia Davis; two nephews, James Turner and Homer Grant Jr.; one sister-in-law, Eddie B. Grant; and a host of other relatives, church family and dear friends.
Celebration of Life Services will be conducted Sunday, May 26, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant AME Zion Church in Statesville, N.C. Burial will follow in the Belmont Cemetery. Mrs. Grant will remain at Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home until taken to the church to lie in state at 1 p.m. Members of the family will receive friends at the church from 1:30 until 2 p.m., but will assemble at the residence at other times.
Visit the Book of Memories for Mrs. Grant at www.rutledgeandbigham.com.
Rutledge & Bigham Funeral Home is serving the Grant Family.
I taught with Mrs. Grant at N.B. Mills Elementary School. She was a great teacher who genuinely cared about her students.
My thoughts and prayers are with you family. A memory that’s always stuck with me is coming to Statesville during the school year (I don’t recall the reason), and instead of it being a vacation I had to go to school, unofficially enrolled in the 4th or 5th grade and call cousin Elaine, Mrs. Grant because she was my teacher.
Mrs. Grant was a great educator who truly cared for her students. I always felt like she had “the deck stacked against her” trying to teach at NB Mills, as many of us were not great students. She was always firm, but fair. She’ll be remembered.
Mrs. Grant was one of my favorite elementary teachers. I have wondered about her over the years and hoped she knew how much she was adored and appreciated by her students. I am forever grateful to her for the amazing educational foundation she provided to me. Praying for her family and friends during this time.