Barbara Ellen Grimes

Barbara Ellen Grimes passed away February 13, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Barbara was born in Bethesda, Maryland in 1956 to Lee and Virginia Morrow. Both her parents served in the Navy. The family lived in Fairfax, Virginia and Barbara attended Fairfax County schools. After graduating from high school, she began a forty-year career with Fairfax County government starting as a secretary with the Fairfax County Attorney's Office and ending her career as a Project Manager in the Department of Information Technology.

On April 24, 1999, Barbara married Marshall Grimes in a small ceremony at a Fairfax County regional park. They were introduced to each other by a couple, Judy who worked with Barbara and Hank who was in Marshall's carpool. They bonded over country dancing and golfing although Barbara was a much better dancer and golfer.

Marshall and Barbara lived in Vienna, Virginia until 2009 when they moved to Hilton Head, South Carolina. Barbara had vacationed there for many years with her parents. It was not too difficult to convince Marshall to head south after an especially cold, snowy winter and years of commuting in the Washington, DC area. It was tough to leave friends and all that the Washington, DC area offered.

Not content to be fully retired, Barbara started a 13-year relationship with Sea Pines CSA as a trolley driver. It was a great job for her outgoing nature, and she enjoyed being around happy vacationers. She enjoyed playing golf at the Golf Club at Indigo Run and pickleball at various courts on the island. Gardening and baking were also two of her favorite pastimes.

Barbara's superpower was making friends; many she kept for most of her life. She was a truly kind, caring person. She volunteered at the Jasper County Animal Services, Hilton Head Humane Association and Litter Box Thrift Store, Turtle Trackers, and Treat the Troops.

As busy as they were, Barbara and Marshall found the time to travel several times a year going to places like Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Peru, New Zealand, and the Galápagos Islands. She enjoyed meeting new people and experiencing other cultures. Their last trip was to Greenland and Iceland this past summer.

Barbara is survived by her husband Marshall, sister-in-law Gail Grimes and husband Mark Greenberg, and close family members in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hilton Head Humane Association at hhhumane.org or Sandalwood Community Food Pantry at sandalwoodfoodbank.com.