Barbara Grier

Barbara Jean Hancock Grier entered into eternal peace on June 28, 2015.

Barbara was born on Oct. 16, 1936, in Mt. Holly, daughter of the late Willie Oscar and Carrie Barnes Hancock. She graduated from Reid High School in 1954, and received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Winston-Salem State University, formerly known as Winston-Salem Teach-ers College.

In 1961, she began her teaching career at Rollins Elementary School. She was employed by Mr. A.M. Rollins, her principal and 8th grade teacher. Mrs. Grier taught there until schools began to integrate. She was the ?rst and only graduate from A.M. Rollins to teach in the Mt. Holly School System. After schools integrated, she began teaching at Mt. Holly Elementary School under the leadership of Mr. Alan Craig. She taught there until it was demolished and a new school was built and renamed Ida Rankin Elemen-tary. She retired from the Gaston County School System in 1993, having taught for 32 years.

Over the tenure of her career, she taught many grade levels and enjoyed each and every one of her students. The students were her number one priority. She always wanted to make every day a special day for her students. Mrs. Grier remembers taking her students on a ?eld trip at Christmas to the Luther-an Church of the Holy Comforter to see its Chrismon Tree. Pastor Cyrus Frazier gave her the patterns of the different ornaments to start a Chrismon Tree in her church. She, along with other church members, made the ornaments and for the last 25 years decorated a Chrismon Tree in her church. Because of her efforts, Mt. Pleasant Baptist in Belmont was the ?rst black church in Gaston County to have a Chrismon Tree in its sanctuary.

Mrs. Grier was also the owner of Barbara's flowers for many years and an avid wedding planner. Bar-bara was a woman of grace, honesty and humor. She lived a life of generosity, always encouraging and providing for her family and those around her. Her family and her church were always at the center of her life. She was a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church where she joined the Deaconess ministry, serving as the Corresponding Secretary for 26 years. Among other church affiliations, she was a member of the choir for over 50 years, the past secretary of the Nannie Burroughs Missionary Group, and a for-mer Sunday school and vacation bible school teacher. She also sewed on the decorating committee at the church.

Mrs. Grier was member of the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), National Education Association (NEA), and a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. She served as secretary of the sorority for many years and was named Zeta of the Year. She was predeceased by her parents, Willie Oscar and Car-rie Barnes Hancock, and one sister, Iris Johnson.

She leaves her loving memories to be cherished by her husband Hubert Grier of 58 years. Together they had four children, Andrea Phillips (Andrew) of Gastonia, Wanda Grier of Belmont, Ronald Grier and Timothy Grier, all of Belmont and Carolina Howard (Bernard) of Stanley; five grandchildren, Megan, An-drew, Reginald, Kimberly, and Jason; five great-grandchildren, Madison, Braylon, Arjae, Jacob, and Jor-don; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be held noon Thursday, July 2, 2015, at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon.

Interment will follow at Henrys Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Belmont.

Grier Funeral Service, 115 John McCarroll Avenue, Charlotte (704) 332-7109 is in charge.