Queen Esther (Gerald) Spicer Grenion

Mother Queen Spicer Grenion (age 89) departed this life Saturday, November 14, 2020, in Myrtle Beach, SC. She is the wife of Mr. John Grenion and mother of five children: Paul, Tony, Leon, Rene, and Alvino (deceased). 

Funeral services are scheduled to be held at the Jackson & McGill Memorial Chapel on Saturday, November 21, 2020, at 12:00 noon. Services will be Live Streamed on the Jackson & McGill Funeral Home Facebook page. Mother Grenion will be laid to rest at the Effingham Baptist Church Cemetery, Mullins, SC. 

Public viewing will be Friday November 20, 2020, 4pm-7pm. 

~ OBITUARY ~

Queen Esther was born on November 30, 1930 in Mullins, SC to Walter and Daisy Gerald, the seventh of 16 children born to the Gerald family. In this large, loving household was a deep respect and connection conveyed by the parents to their children. Honesty, integrity, respect, honor, and hard work were entrenched values of the Gerald household, and supporting each other as family was a constant theme. Their children were encouraged to be the best they could be and went on to accomplish great things and leave a legacy to their own children. Queen, also affectionately known as “Queenie,” was no exception.

Queen completed her primary and secondary education in Marion County. Upon her graduation from high school, her parents insisted that she join her eldest sister Mamie in Philadelphia PA,  to attend college to further her education and prepare for a lifelong career. In Philadelphia, she met and married Paul F. Pearson (deceased), and five children were born to their union: Paul, Leon, Tony, Alvino (deceased) and Vernee’. She continued her education, receiving her BA and MA degrees from Antioch University, becoming a special education teacher in the Philadelphia school system.  She served as a special education teacher for more than 25 years, until her retirement.

In 1969, she attended a tent meeting conducted by Elder C.D. Brooks in North Philadelphia, and joined the Seventh-Day Adventist church (as did her sister Mamie). Queen went on to hold several positions in the church throughout the years, serving as Sabbath School superintendent, Sabbath School teacher, usher, health educator, Prison Ministry leader, Bible worker, and Elder. After being ordained as an Elder, she served as First Elder of Mizpah SDA church in Philadelphia and also, at the Marion SDA church in Marion, SC. Queen travelled all over the United States doing Bible work to build up the kingdom of God, and as a result of those efforts, hundreds of souls accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and were baptized—from Alaska to Texas, to Georgia and beyond.

Queen was a praying woman who loved her children and their children fiercely and kept a home always open to them, even to live for a while if needed. Throughout life’s ups and downs, she strove to keep her family united. Her heart was warm and enveloping, and with a sharp sense of loyalty and injustice, she was quick to defend her own, taking no crap from anyone, least of all her family.

She was one of the last five remaining of the Gerald children. Preceding her in rest are siblings Mamie, Walter (Bub), Annie, Ernest, Marion, King David, James, Luther, Willie, Jonathan, and an infant sister.

She leaves to mourn her loss:

●      her beloved husband, friend and partner of 20+ years, John Grenion. We give special honor to him for his years of loving and tender care and nurture for his Queen, and for including all of her offspring in his affections.

●      her surviving siblings: Gladys, Rose, Nathaniel, and Harry.

●      her children:  Paul (Poncho); Leon and his wife, Nicola; Tony; Vernee’ and her husband, Errol; daughters-in-love, Karen  and Demetra

●      her grandchildren: Naomi, Chris, Michael, Katie, Vernee’, Quentin, Derek, Tyler, Zoanna. 

●      her great-grandchildren: Frederick, Kyler, Raquel, and Christopher.

Also left to mourn are her extended and extensive family including a half-sister, *Lena and a host of friends and fellow church members and workers.

Queen lived confidently in, and now rests, in the certainty of the resurrection when “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

The family of Mother Queen Spicer Grenion, in consideration of the current health crisis facing our world, nation, state, and the local community, has decided to hold a private 50 people or less, family only, funeral service for their loved one with private interment immediately following. While the Spicer/Grenion/Gerald family would love to be surrounded by your presence, they acknowledge the health risks to family, church members, friends, and particularly to those who are most vulnerable to this disease, the elderly, and those with chronic health conditions. What the family needs most at this time are your prayers and understanding. Thank you for your concern and cooperation.

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