Harriet Grant

Family-Placed Death Notice

GRANT, Harriet HARRIET KEY "HATTIE" GRANT Harriet Key "Hattie" Grant, 98, passed away in her quarters at Wesley Woods Budd Terrace in Atlanta on Thursday, May 26, 2011. Hattie was born October 10, 1912 to Harriet Scales Grant and Bryan Morel Grant, Sr. She attended the old Girls High in Atlanta, GA and Hollins College in Roanoke, VA. An Atlanta debutante, Hattie was the great - granddaughter of Lemuel Pratt "L.P." Grant, Director of Atlanta & West Point Railroad, a civil engineer whose designs transformed the region from Terminus-Marthasville-Thrasherville into a major rail hub now known as Atlanta. During the Civil War, he served as CSA Colonel L.P. Grant and designed the unbroken fortifications around Atlanta. In May 1883, Grant submitted a hand-written deed to city leaders which outlined the donation of 100 acres of his land to be utilized for a public park for "all Atlantans" regardless of race, thereby creating Grant Park which now contains Zoo Atlanta. As early as 1883, the swimming beach in Grant Park on former Lake Abama was fully integrated. He donated land on Jenkins Street for Atlanta's first African-American church, Bethel Church. He sold land below market value and contributed funds for a public hospital where Grady Hospital now stands. When Grant died in 1893, he was recognized as one of Atlanta's "best friends, one of her noblest citizens, and one of her chief benefactors" by The Atlanta Journal. Continuing L.P's ethic of service, Hattie served Atlanta tirelessly as a long-standing member of the Junior League. An Episcopalian, she was a member at the Cathedral of St. Philip. Hattie led an active life, traveling and playing tennis and golf. She thoroughly enjoyed swimming, almost daily. Hattie played bridge to advantage, reputed to be one of the best bridge players in Atlanta. She survived many friends who perished in the plane crash at Paris-Orly Airport, having bowed out of the trip herself for family reasons. She was an artist, collector, and supporter of the Arts, interested most in French impressionism. She loved animals, frequently painting her neighbors' pets then giving the paintings to them as gifts. Among her favorite things was the Club Sandwich in the Piedmont Driving Club's Park Room, dutifully served by Greg Logan, who engaged her like a very old and dear friend. Her second favorite thing must have been Sunday brunch in the Ball Room with her great nephew, Beau. Her largest contribution was to her family. She managed the family's business and served as their "mom" for over 60 years. Hattie selflessly and tirelessly cared for her family, such that none wanted for anything. She cooked for her brother, nephew, and great-nephew, all of whom lived with her for many years. Hattie considered all of the Grants her children and made sacrifices for them all. In 1986, Harriet was predeceased by her two brothers: businessman, M. Berry Grant, Sr. of Charlotte, NC, and Bryan M. "Bitsy" Grant, Jr., inductee to the Rhode Island International Tennis Hall of Fame, State of Georgia Athletic Hall of Fame, two-time Davis Cup winner, and the namesake of the Bitsy Grant Tennis Center on Northside Parkway in Atlanta where he played for decades with his good friend Bobby Dodd. Hattie is survived by her beloved family: niece, Mary Grant (Joe) McDonald and great-nephews: Christopher Grant McDonald and Jeffrey Bryan McDonald all of Newberry, SC; nephew, Bryan M. Grant, III and great-nephew, Bryan "Beau" Grant, IV both of Atlanta; nephew, M. Berry (Sheldon) Grant, Jr. and great-nieces and nephews: Elizabeth Keats Grant, Leighton Kyle Grant, Ashley Grant Schewzyk and Sher rill Ward Gra nt, an d great- great-nephew, Brayden Schewzyk all of Charlotte, NC. Hattie has lived at Budd Terrace since 2007, and the family would like to thank the staff, especially: Balram "Bee" Goberdhan, Josephine Polanen, Valerie Moffett, Laura Roberts, Don Graves, Linda Kind, Quintina Njai, Jessie Shepherd, Ingra Knight, Carolyn Rhoades, Dr. Mohamad Moussa and Dr. Sahebi Seyed. Thanks also to her sitter staff: Karen Britain, Mena Mensa, Winnie Baker, Suzanne Nnoko, and Narman Alhassan just to name a few. Dentist Dr. Kevin Hendler and his staff also deserve special mention. A graveside service will be held at Westview Cemetery on Thursday, June 2, 2011 at eleven o'clock in the morning. The procession will assemble at the gate of Westview Cemetery, 1680 Ralph David Abernathy, SW, Atlanta, GA 30310. In lieu of flowers, the family feels Hattie would appreciate donations to any of the following organizations: Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, PO Box 821, Alpharetta, GA 30009, www.angelsrescue.org; Grant Park Conservancy, PO Box 89189, Atlanta, GA 30312, 404.521.0938, www.gpconservancy.org; Friends of Bitsy Grant Tennis Center, 2125 Northside Drive, Atlanta, GA 30305, www.bitsytennis.com. Her friends and neighbors: Hope Flammer and Jay Shaf fe r, foun d e r s of Voice Quilt.com, have given a VoiceQuilt to the surviving family. Please call in to express your favorite "Hattie Stories." Simply dial: 1-877OurQuilt (1-877-687-7845) and enter 146009. Online condolences may be made at hmpattersonspringhill. com Miss Hattie lived by her own rules, and she was loved by everyone without reserve.