Mary Jo Grimison

Branchville, Mary Joanne Belt Grimison, "Mary Jo", 85, entered peacefully into rest at home with her loving husband of 54 years by her side on Friday, January 20, 2012. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 26th at 6 PM at the Ott Funeral Home in Branchville, South Carolina. Mary Jo was preceded in death by her mother, Marjorie Slocum Belt, her father, Earl Clifford Belt, and her brothers, Richard Earl Belt and Laurance James Belt, and one grandchild. Mary Jo was born in Dayton, Ohio on July 24, 1926. As a child, Mary Jo loved reading and spending time with her family on the golf course. She also spent countless hours traveling with her mother, a journalist, to various cities and states researching their family's genealogy. Mary Jo was a Tenth Generation Belt in America and a Twelfth Generation Jewett in America. Mary Jo attended the University of Dayton for two years before her family relocated to Los Angeles, California. She attended The University of Southern California and then transferred to UCLA, where she finished her education. Mary Jo was an astute business women who was a business manager for the Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation for a number of years, in El Paso, Texas, before entering the Federal Civil Service System where she was a Business Manager for the Dover Air Force Base Officer's Club in Dover, Delaware and the Eglin Air Force Base Officer's Club in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. After moving to Charleston, South Carolina, she continued her Civil Service employment for many years retiring from the Charleston Naval Base as a Budget Officer/Auditor. Over the years, Mary Jo was a member of The Order of the Eastern Star, The Daughters' of the Nile, an NCO Wives' Club President, and a Girl Scout Leader. Mary Jo was also a loving wife and mother. Mary Jo, was married to James N. Grimison, Sr., "Jim", on November 30, 1957. Following Jim, during his career in the Air Force, Mary Jo lived in El Paso, TX, Grand Forks, ND, Clark Air Force Base, The Philippine Islands, Dover, DE, Ft. Walton Beach, FL, and Charleston and Branchville, SC where she lived for the last 39 years of her life. Mary Jo is survived by her loving husband, James N. Grimison, Sr. of Branchville, SC; three daughters, Susan Harth Nine (Thomas) of Warner Robins, GA; Deborah Grimison Gasparich (Thomas) of Moncks Corner, SC; Vickie Grimison Myers (Artie) of Summerville, SC, and a son, James N. Grimison, Jr. (Lori) of Crestview, FL. Mary Jo also leaves behind eight grandchildren: Christopher Parker (Melissa), Bryan Parker (Lauren), James Grimison III, Courtney Jardine (Edward) , Dana Gasparich, Kasey Gasparich, Joel Grimison, Tyler Grimison, and 4 great-grandchildren. Online condolences can be made at www.ottfh.com.

Mary Jo Grimison

July 24, 1926 - January 20, 2012