James Roland Grissom, 87, passed away Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012, at St. Joseph of the Pines, in Southern Pines.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Vass United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Phil Brown and the Rev. David Beck officiating. Burial will follow at Johnson’s Grove Cemetery near Vass. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, at Boles Funeral Home, in Southern Pines.
Mr. Grissom was a native of Montgomery County but lived most of his adult life in Vass. He served as the chief of police in Vass for 30 years. After his formal retirement as police chief, he began working for the Moore County Sheriff’s Office and remained for more than a decade.
Mr. Grissom had a deep love for children and, while with the Vass Police Department, daily directed traffic at Vass-Lakeview School, where he always safely escorted children across U.S. 1. One of his favorite pastimes occurred during the Christmas season, when he became Santa Claus, everywhere. Mr. Grissom also served one term as a town commissioner for the town of Vass.
He was the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions for his community service, including the Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service, Dept. of the Treasury ATF Certificate of Appreciation, Vass-Lakeview School Volunteer of the Year, Carthage Rotary Distinguished Citizen, and Moore Count y Schools Volunteer of the Year.
Mr. Grissom is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Nora Thomas Grissom; two sons, the Rev. David R. Grissom and wife, Sue, of Creedmoor, and Paul W. Grissom and wife, Evelyn, of New Palestine, Ind.; one sister, Bernice Price, of Sanford; and one brother, Bobby Grissom and wife, Nancy, of Sanford. He was known as Papa G to his six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Flowers are welcome, or memorials may be made to the Vass United Methodist Church, 111 Alma Street, Vass, NC 28394. Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com.
Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines is serving the family.
↧
Obituary for James R. Grissom
↧