Carole Lois Grimes

Carole Lois Henderson Davis Grimes was born December 23, 1940, in Morgantown, West Virginia, to Anna Mae Henderson and George Alexander Davis.

In the late 1940’s, she, her mother and siblings Tricia and Robert, moved to Dayton, Ohio. Her mother worked at McCalls Printing while earning her nursing degree. For the next 30+years she was employed as a Licensed Practical Nurse for Miami Valley Hospital, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and retired from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Hospital.

Because her mother worked long days, Carole was the quintessential oldest sister— taking the responsibility of “keeping up with the younger ones,” as she referred to her sister Tricia and brother Robert. She taught them many things, including the value of an education beyond high school. Carole practiced what she  preached. After graduating from Roosevelt High School in Dayton, Ohio, in 1959, Carole was employed in various clerical positions. It was during this time, she met and married Ray Grimes. They had a daughter, Nicole Yvette. Carole and Ray divorced in the late 1960’s.

As a single mother, and realizing she needed a career rather than just a job, Carole continued to work full time and take college courses part-time at Sinclair Community College in Dayton. She earned her Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1977. Continuing her education at Xavier University in Cincinnati as a full-time student, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Arts in 1979. While at Xavier, Carole was also an on-air personality at WVXU, the university’s radio station. 

During this time, Carole was blessed and fortunate to receive assistance from family and friends—affectionately referred to as the “village”— in the rearing of her daughter Nicole. The “village” included, her mother, Anna Mae, her aunt and uncle, Gladys Virginia and Nathaniel Scott, her sister-in-law LaVera Grimes Henry Brown and her sister and brother-in-law, Doris and William Johnson.

After graduating from Xavier, Carole was employed with the Dayton Metropolitan Housing Authority as a Purchasing Assistant and was an Intake Coordinator with the Montgomery County Community Action Agency. She retired as a Veteran Intake Resolution Specialist from the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio in 1995.

An encouraging and proud grandmother to her two granddaughters, she never tired of boasting about their academic achievements. 

Never one to be idle, Carole made a quantum leap into community advocacy upon retirement.  The organizations and advocacy work that remained the dearest to her were City of Dayton Neighborhood Leadership Institute, Ohio Mental Health Symposium, The Metropolitan Residents Council and Finance Fund Board of Trustees. She worked with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio at Dayton as a Reentry Court Community Advocate.  Until her last day on this earth, she was a dedicated and longstanding member of the Finance Fund Board in Columbus, Ohio and Metropolitan Residents Council of Dayton, Ohio.

Carole was preceded in passing from this world by her grandparents Guy Linvel Henderson and Beatrice Mae (Jenkins) Henderson, parents Anna Mae Henderson Gonzaleze and George Alexander Davis, her Henderson siblings, Tricia Ann Moorman, Robert (“Buddy”) Edward Brown, Sr.; Davis siblings, George, Jr. and Rose Esther King.

Carole will be lovingly remembered by her daughter, Nicole Grimes Johnson, son-in-law, Bernard (“BJ”) Johnson, and granddaughters Dominique Nicole Johnson and Sydney Alexandria Johnson. She is also survived by her DAVIS SIBLINGS, Pamela Foster, George Nathaniel Davis, Debbie Turner, John Davis and Kevin Davis; HENDERSON NIECE AND NEPHEWS, Tina Marie (Carlos) Jentimane, Tanya (Johnnie) Portis and Robert Edward Brown, Jr.; DAVIS NIECES AND NEPHEWS, George III, Kellie, Stacey, Tracey, Jeremy, Jennifer, Jayme, Michael, Alexander (Amber), Billy, Velvet, Sarah, Kevin, Jr., Kara, Kennedy, Kizzy and Shannon; GRIMES NIECES AND NEPHEWS, LaQuita Henry, Melanie Davis, Carmelita Winburn, Bridget Johnson, Jamita (Stan) Tompkins, Kyra (Chet) Robinson and Stanley Grimes; and a host of other loving relatives and friends.

Memorial service 11 am Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Summit Christian Church, 4021 Denlinger Rd, Trotwood, OH. Calling hour 10 am at which time family will receive friends. Arrangements entrusted to House of Wheat Funeral Home.

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