John Grooms

Grooms, John Payne, 71, of Charles City, VA, formerly of Chicago, IL transitioned this life and returned to God in eternal rest on December 17, 2012. Born on December 13, 1941 in Columbia, SC to the late Sidney and the late Evelyn Grooms, John was the youngest of 14 children. His father, Sidney, made news as one of the first Black farmers to own a tractor in South Carolina, and before moving to Virginia, he donated land for the building of a Church. John graduated from Boston Technical High School in 1957 and later attended Virginia Union University. After being drafted into the US military, John graduated from officers candidate school, becoming an Army helicopter pilot and serving during the Vietnam War. After moving to Chicago with his wife, John joined the board of the south Shore Commission and helped to found a community newspaper, the South Shire Scene. John later became a police officer and retired from the Chicago Police Department in 2004. John was preceded in death by his parents, Sidney and Evelyn Grooms; two paternal half siblings; six brothers, Odell (Irene) Grooms, Chester (Dorothy) Grooms, Richard (Willie Mae) Grooms, Joseph Grooms, Sidney(Ruthie) Grooms, Jr., Thomas (Beatrice) Grooms, Ida Grooms, Thelma (Willie) Moss, and Elizabeth (Rudolph) Graham. John is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Linda Grooms; three children John (Victoria) Grooms, Jr., Allisha (Grooms) Love, Christopher Grooms, two grandchildren, Ashleigh Grooms, Jonathan Grooms; one brother, Marion (Lilly) Grooms; two sisters, Mattie (Jim) Hughes, Hattie(William) Beasley, several nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and loved ones. Services will be held at 11 AM in the Chapel of J. Leroy Charity Funeral Home, 5130 John Tyler Memorial Highway, Charles City, Virginia 23030. Interment will be at Maury Cemetery, 2700 Maury Street, Richmond, VA 23220. The Grooms family thanks all of those who have extended their sympathy, love and support.