Mariemma Beckham Grimes

Mrs. Mariemma Beckham Grimes, 85, retired Administrative Assistant to the President at Columbia Academy and resident of Trotwood Ave., died Monday, March 31, 2008 at NHC Hillview. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at Columbia Academy Vest Hall with John Vaughan and Mike Kesler officiating. Burial will be in Bryant Cemetery with Curtis Dowdy officiating. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 4 - 8 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home and Friday from 10 - 11 a.m. at Vest Hall. Memorials may be made to Mariemma B. Grimes Early Learning Center, Columbia Academy, 1101 West 7th St., Columbia, TN 38401, or Highland Church of Christ Building Fund, 497 E. James M. Campbell Blvd., Columbia, TN, or Tennessee Children's Home, P.O. Box 10, Spring Hill, TN 37174. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Marshall County native was the daughter of the late Charles Beckham and Nina Blanche Garrett Beckham. On October 26, 1946 she married Thomas Byron "Tom" Grimes who preceded her in death September 8, 1984. She was a graduate of Marshall County High School and Columbia Business College. In 1952 she began her career at Columbia Military Academy where the cadets called her "Mother Superior" because she mothered them while they were away from home. When Columbia Military Academy closed she continued her work with Columbia Academy until her retirement in 2002. Mrs. Grimes was a member of Highland Church of Christ. She is survived by nieces, Jenny Beckham (Andy) Robinson of Lewisburg, Gail (Chuck) Richey of Brentwood, Caneta (Tom) Hankins of Franklin; nephews, Jim (Martha) Skelley of Birmingham, AL, William Carl (Sherrie) Grimes of Seguin, TX; great-niece, Victoria Robinson of Lewisburg; sister-in-law, Jackie (B.W.) Grimes of Knoxville; long-time employee and dear friend Mattie Armstrong; many friends and co-workers; and beloved canine companion, Cricket. She was preceded in death by a brother, William Beckham and a sister, Elizabeth Beckham. Pallbearers will be Rick Barker, Harold Rippy, Jerry Kennedy, Billy Kennedy, Wayne Kennedy, Russell Gibbons, Houston McCanless, Jerry Escue and Don McMahon. Honorary pallbearers will be Vice President of Business Affairs at Columbia Academy, James Bryant; past and present Presidents and Directors of Columbia Academy; Columbia Military Alumni Association; Dr. Thomas Dake; the staff of NHC Hillview and Caris Hospice; and elders and deacons of Highland Church of Christ.