Pete Grady

Vernon "Pete" Franklin Grady, Sr. passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. Funeral services will be held at eleven o'clock a.m., Friday, December 12, 2025 in the Folk Funeral Home Chapel, Williston, SC with the Reverend Dan Fogle officiating; burial will follow in the Williston Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Friday. Memorial contributions may be given in Pete's memory to the Williston Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 367, Williston, SC 29853.

He as a son of the late Louis D. Grady, Jr. and Leila Johnson Grady and was married to the late Nina Jean Johnson Grady for 62 years. Pete graduated from Williston-Elko High school in 1955. He attended the last two years of high school there. His previous education was in Walterboro, South Carolina. Pete served fifteen years on the Williston District 29 School Board of Trustees where he had the distinct honor of presenting each of his three children their diplomas. Pete was employed by the Savannah River Plant after graduation from high school. He remained there for thirty-eight years retiring in 1993.

Pete, as he was known by almost everyone, spent much of his adult life in the service of his community, having helped organize the Williston Jaycees and serving five times as its president where he was instrumental in getting the U.S. Government to build a new Post Office. He was Deputy Director of Civil Defense for Barnwell County during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Pete served one term of four years on the Barnwell County Council including one year as Chairman. He served eleven years on the Barnwell County Economic Development Commission with all years except one as Chairman. Pete was a life member of Hope Lodge #126 Ancient Free Masons having recently received his 50 year service pin. He also went to the Omar Shrine as a Knights Templar and as a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason. He served as president of the Williston Country Club twice although he was not a golfer. He will best be remembered for his portrayal of Santa Clause with his loving wife Nina as Mrs. Clause. They played the parts for many years taking photos and riding in the town Christmas Parade. Pete, along with Bebo Flynn were the owners and operators of Shamrock Realty for 40 years.

Pete was an avid blood donor. He gave over ten gallons to the Red Cross and more than five gallons to Shepard Blood center and the Orangeburg Blood Bank.

He believed he would be drafted into military service upon graduation from high school so he joined the newly formed Army Reserve unit in Williston while still in high school. Mr. Grady remained in the Army Reserves for thirty two years where he retired. While in the reserves he received many awards including three Army commendation medals and the Meritorious Service Medal which is the highest award that can be presented by the reserves when not on active duty. Mr. Grady's main contribution to the reserves was designing and implementing a program to provide identification cards to reserve members as required by law.

Survivors include his children, Carol Spain, Verna (Paul) Dobson, and Vernon "Frank" (Becky) Grady, Jr.; grandchildren, James "Jamie" (Carol) Davis, Jackie (Jason) Hall , Bryan Davis, Nicholas "Nick" (Caroline) Dobson, Cullen Grady, and Austin (Kristi) Grady; great grandchildren, Grady Hall, Bennett Hall and Colby Riggs Dobson; a brother-in-law, Melvyn Boylston.

He was preceded in death by his siblings, Marie Boylston, Frances (Elbert) Woodward and Louis D. "Jimmy" Grady, III.