Rita Sue Grimsley

Rita Sue Grimsley, age 76, entered into rest February 9, 2022. She was a lifelong resident of the Tallahassee area. Rita was the daughter of the late John and Sarah Collins McCranie. She attended Elementary and middle schools in Tallahassee culminating in graduation from Leon High School Class of 1963. Rita was employed at North Florida Christian School during her children's 12 year tenure, followed by State of Florida Department of Highway Safety and culminating with retirement from the Florida Department of Agriculture. Rita's hobbies were nurturing plants inside and outside her home, feeding wayfaring birds by filling her bird feeders, cooking delicious meals and most recently, attending Tuesday night "Bingo" games at the Seinyard Restaurant at Wildwood in Wakulla County where funds raised go to helping needy animals. Rita was COMPLETELY DEDICATED to taking care of her family which she did extraordinarily well and stood ready to protect them if need be. Rita was not interested at all in fame or fortune in the business or society world. After Jesus Christ and her service to Him, Rita's family was # 1 first and foremost all the way up to her last breath. Rita tried to attend any and all of her grandchildren's pursuits which included softball games, baseball games, recitals, piano lessons, wrestling matches, football games, soccer games etc. It did not matter what it was, if a grandchild was involved Rita would be there in support. Rita accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior as a young girl and never wavered from serving Him in any capacity she could. At her present church, Lake Ellen Baptist Church in Crawfordville, Rita served on the Wednesday Night Meal Committee preparing meals for those attending Wednesday night service. Rita also served on the Thursday Food Share Committee handing out uncooked food items to deserving and needy persons of Wakulla County. Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Chet Grimsley; son Jason Grimsley and his wife Jennifer Elizabeth Grimsley; daughter Regina Grimsley Reyes; three grandsons and three granddaughters that Rita prayed for “everyday” from their birth up and until her sickness and death. She is also survived by her siblings Iola McCranie Ponder and Katherine McCranie Shiver. Rita was preceded in death by her siblings Devota McCranie Gerrell, Verlie McCranie Cacciatore, Edmonia McCranie Messer, John McCranie and Cleo McCranie. The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Monday, February 14, 2022 at Lake Ellen Baptist Church, 4495 Crawfordville Hwy. Funeral services will follow at the church at 10:00 a.m. Graveside services will be held 12 noon at Tallahassee National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486 or www.mdanderson.org/gifts. Please designate your gift to Pancreatic Cancer Research – VDPANC Susie Mozolic of Bevis Funeral Home is assisting the family with their arrangements. (www.bevisfh.com 850-385-2193)

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Rita Sue Grimsley

November 20, 1945 - February 9, 2022