Lucille Carolyn Grimes was born to the union of Lucy Willie Anderson and Lawrence James Simms on February 11, 1920 in St. Louis. She spent her childhood in Kinloch, attended Sumner High School and graduated from Lincoln University in Jefferson City. During her matriculation at Lincoln, she met and married Maurice Harris. One daughter was born to that union.
Lucille later married the love of her life, Frederick Jones Grimes, a renowned police lieutenant on the St. Louis Police Department. Fred and Lucille had two daughters, making a blended family of four children. The family attended St. James AME Church for many years. In September 1972, Fred preceded Lucille in death. They were married for 26 years.
For 30 years, Lucille worked for various agencies as a counselor and a teacher. Her fondest memories were the years spent at Ashland School in St. Louis.
Throughout her life, she embodied the scripture of one faith, one Lord, one baptism. As a child, she was baptized into the sanctified faith, and in her adult life she joined St. James and St. Peters AME Churches and Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church. Lucille found her spiritual home at St. Alphonsus (Rock) Church where she was later appointed to the Elder’s Council.
Her civic and community involvement included NAACP, YMCA, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Aunts & Uncles Incorporated, Lincoln University Alumni Association, St. Louis Repertory Theater and St. Louis Teacher’s Association.
Leaving to mourn her passing and to cherish her memory are her sister, Marguerite Clay; her children, Sheila Maurcile, Frederick Michael, Freida Carole and Mary Elizabeth; her grandchildren, Kelli Denise, David Bryan (Eva Laurena), Tiffany Carole and Danielle Nicole; her great grandchildren, Christopher Valdez, Bryan Christian, David Brandon and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.