Willie Grant

Willie Mae (Simmons) Grant, 88, of 2128 E. 19th Street, went home to glory on Monday, January 21, 2013. She was born in Laurel, Mississippi on July 28, 1924 to the late Willie Eugene Simmons and Charity Ann Love Simmons.

She moved to Erie with her family in 1943. Willie Mae was employed at Star laundry then moved on to work at St. Vincent Health Center in radiology. She loved children so much she began babysitting. She had so many children, that when they grew up to have children of their own she began to baby-sit them also. She was known as "Auntie" to all. However nothing could top the love she had for her Lord Jesus Christ. Willie Mae found the Lord and was saved and filled with the Holy Ghost. At the age of 17 she dedicated her life to him. Willie Mae joined Christ Tabernacle Church under Elder Jasper W. Grant. She continued to worship the Lord and then joined True Holiness Church of Jesus Christ Pastor Elder George Simmons, Sr. Her work wasn't done. She was the church secretary, treasurer, Sunday school teacher and the Mother of the Church at True Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, Pastor Elder Johnny Payton.

She was preceded in death by her husband Elder Jasper W. Grant, a sister Blossie Smith, and two brothers, Willie Simmons, Jr. and Elder George Simmons, Sr.

She is survived by her daughter, Williemary (Grant) Montgomery, grandson, Justice Grant, four sisters: Ernestine Glover (Lucius), Velma Jones (Willie), Charity Simmons, all of Erie, and Thelma Clinton (Willie Dee) of Sandusky, Ohio, a sister-in-law,

Allie E. Simmons and her caregivers, Tonya Allen, Marvin Allen, and Angelica Powell. Many nieces and nephews and close long time friend Sally Hayes also survive.

Friends may call at the Burton Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 602 West Tenth Street, on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and are invited to attend a funeral service at Holy Trinity Church, 1703 Holland Street, on Saturday at 11 a.m. with Elder George Simmons, Jr. officiating.

Interment will follow in Lakeside Cemetery.