|
 George
Henry Grant, Sr. Convener of the Clan Grant Society of the USA, November
20, 1929 - May 7, 2012 of Hixson passed away at his home with his family
on Monday, May 7, 2012.
http://hosting-24664.tributes.com/show/George-H.-Grant-93778658
George was born in Gulfport, Mississippi to the late Benjamin Franklin
and Grace Henriquez Grant. He grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana and
Tampa Florida. He graduated from Plant High School and the University of
Tampa in 1955. He married Lucille Marie Hickey Grant on May 4, 1951 at
Sacred Heart Church in Tampa.
He was in the U.S. Army stationed in Germany from 1951 -1953.
George founded George Grant Company in 1966, a manufacturer's
Representative agency selling instrumentation and process equipment with
offices throughout the southeast. The company celebrates its 46th year.
He is a charter member with his wife Lucille of St. Jude Catholic Church
in Chattanooga since 1959.
Throughout his life he was an eternal optimist. As his children grew up,
he was a baseball coach, a Den "Mother" Boy Scout leader, a golf
teacher, and a teacher of life. He was a natural salesman and never met
a person he didn't like. He had an insatiable curiousity about life.
He loved and cherished his family and would do anything for them.
George traveled extensively his whole life throughout the United States
and Europe. After their children grew up, he and Lucille founded and was
Convenor of the Scottish Clan Grant Society of America in 1979.
He loved traveling to Scotland and Ireland. He was an avid golfer all
his life and was a member of Valleybrook Golf & Country Club for over 40
years. George was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Lucille
Grant in 2007. A special thanks to his close friend Joy Woodard.
He is survived by his sister, Carol Hebert of Louisiana; four children,
George (Criss) Grant, Chattanooga; Susan (Richard) Bisbee, Tallahassee,
FL; William (Melissa) Grant of Alexandria, VA; Theresa Lynne Harper,
Kissimmee, FL; He has eight grandchildren, Richard Grant Bisbee, Blaire
Bisbee, Allison Harper, Christopher Harper, Eleanor Grant, Larson Grant,
Jennifer Walters and Derek Chastain.
A mass of Celebration will take place at 1:00 PM Thursday at St. Jude
Catholic Church with Father Charlie Burton officiating. The family will
receive friends, from 4-8 PM Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at Hamilton Funeral
Home. A Christian Wake Prayer Service will be held at 7:45 PM
Mr. Grant will be taken to Brewer & Sons Funeral Home in Tampa Florida
for graveside services to be held at 10:00 AM Saturday at St. Louis
Cemetery with Father Corrigan officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of
Chattanooga, 165 Hamm Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37405.
Arrangements were made by Hamilton Funeral Home & Cremation Services,
4506 Hixson Pike.
(423) 531-3975 and Brewer & Sons Funeral Homes in Tampa.
Graveside services were held Saturday, May 12, 2012, 10AM at St. Louis
Cemetery.
Rest in piece George, reunited with your beloved Lucille. You are
remembered by your kith and kin.
Sincerely,
Chris
Dr. Christopher Pratt and Mrs. Jimmie Cochran Pratt, MPA
3rd President, Clan Grant Society USA
Cuimhnich air na daoine
on tàinig thu. / Remember those from whom you are descended.
by George H. Grant
 In
July of 1977, George & Lucille Grant attended the Grandfather Mountain
Highland Games. They were invited by neighbors, Ivan and Constance
MacArthur. Ivan was to be made president of the MacArthur Clan Society.
On Sunday afternoon there
is a "Parade of Tartans", with each Clan marching behind their tartan
banner around the field. The GRANT Banner was preceded by a piper,
Ludovic Grant, the banner was carried by Dorsey McIllroy. There were no
clansmen following. After the parade, George asked Dorsey & Ludovic if
there was a Clan Grant Society. The answer was no. Neither of them had
the time or energy necessary to get it started. They suggested I get in
touch with Lord Strathspey, if interested, they would give all the
support they could.
After long conversations
with Lucille, George wrote Strathspey, requesting permission to form a
clan society in America. Patrick responded in the affirmative and gave
me the names & addresses of other people who had expressed an interest
in a society. He highly recommended I contact John G. Grant of Los
Angeles, Beverly Hills, CA. I did, John & I talked and agreed to work
together to organize. In January, 1978, George flew to California on
business and met with John & Barbara Grant. Plans were made and
implemented, we were off and running.
The list provided by
Patrick became Founding Charter members. Dr. Philip & Shirley Grant
Smith were on the list. Probably the most important couple for the
society. Shirley was our secretary from the beginning and Phil gave us
much needed guidance. Shirley functioned as membership, chief recruiter,
news gatherer and general organizer. Couldn't have been done without
their efforts. Eugene & Jule Grant, Angwin, CA. organised California and
the West coast. For 10 years through the spring and summer they attended
every Highland Game in California. Gene made a trailer with a top that
folded out to form a counter and tent for the games. Jim and Mary Suttie
were their companions and successors.
We decided, if we could
get Lord & Lady Strathspey over here, it would be a great help. We
contacted the organizers of, Grandfather Mtn., Los Angeles Games, &
Arlington, VA. Highland Games, and asked they invite the Strathspey's to
be Honored Guests. We would pay their travel and accommodation expenses.
They agreed.
In late June 1978, they
arrived in Chattanooga, TN with a Pipe Band and the Mayor to meet them
at the airport. John & Barbara were there. We had the week designated
"Chattanooga's Scottish Heritage". They were given the Keys to the City
and were royally entertained at various high profile functions every
day. The week culminated with a reception at George & Lucille's home for
250+ people. Strathspey's picture was in the paper every day for the
entire week.
Next week it was
Grandfather Mtn. We signed up 25 new members. 28 charter members came
from around the eastern U.S. Monday the Strathspeys' flew to Los Angles
for another grand week . Saturday they were the Honored guests at the
games. Monday the flew to Washington, DC. They were met at the airport
by The St. Andrews Pipe Band. Gordon & Mildred Grant arranged for a
looong limousine for the week as transportation. They visited the "White
House", Arlington Cemetery, Smithsonian, everywhere in great style. At
the Games we met "Cluny" MacPherson and his wife.
The trip was a success.
We now had over a hundred member around the country. All enthusiastic.
We were on our way.
In 1980, we decided to
try and start a Canadian Branch. Mathew & Anne Grant-Knapp, one of our
Charter members, began hosting a tent at Canadian Games, across the
border, from their home in Buffalo, NY. They found plenty of interest.
Ian & JoAnne Grant of Missasauga, (Toronto), agreed to be the conveners.
Canadian Membership flourished. U.S. sent newsletters for a time until
they found a news editor. Ian & Joanne had a job transfer to France and
Syd & Eileen Grant successfully took over. In the mid 1980's a Canadian
Maritime Branch was established.
1981 was designated, "The
Year of the Scot", in Edinburgh. James "Hank" Grant , our Historian, had
been to Scotland several times, especially to Grant Country. He arranged
to rent, "Kinveachy Lodge", for 36 of us from the U.S. We planned to
visit important Grant Castles and locations in Speyside. We felt it very
important to have an active Clan Society in Scotland, especially
Speyside.
We all, 36 of us, arrived
in Edinburgh the week before going to Kinveachy. Grants from Australia
joined us. We took the evening salute at Edinburgh Castle. Strathspey
was one of the Honored Guests of the Edinburgh City. We went everywhere
in our kilts. George, Lucille & Strathspey's walked down the royal mile.
Patrick was wearing trousers. George was asked to pose for pictures
every few steps. Patrick acted as his agent, asking for 1 pound 50 P,
per picture.
One day, visiting
exhibits in one of the buildings, we came across, David Grant-Blythe. He
was manning a Burns exhibit. I introduced Strathspey to David. David was
quite impressed, and indicated an interest in forming a Clan Society in
the U.K. He asked us over to his home for a drink that night. We were
all going to "Usher Hall", for a concert by the Scottish Fiddlers
Society & Capt. Angus MacDonald, Pipe Major of the Royal Scots Greys and
Piper to the Queen. He insisted we come after the concert. We agreed and
20 of us descended upon David and his wife. She poured the drinks and I
knew something was wrong. The glasses were all filled to the brim with
Scotch, just like a glass of milk. She knew nothing about drinking.
Lucille and I collected the glasses and repoured wee drams.
We invited David and his
wife to come to Kinveachy the following Saturday. We were having a
reception for everyone who was anyone in Speyside.
The week in Speyside was
spent being very visible. We were cordially welcomed and visited,
Monymusk, Ballindalloch, Glenfarclas, Rothiemurchus, Highland Folk
Museum, Castle Grant, Cullen House, Glen Moriston, Glen Urquart, and
Revack Lodge. We had dinner on the train from Boat of Garten to
Aviemore. Guests were George Grant, Glenfarclas, Russell's of
Ballindalloch. Friday evening we held a street dance for the people of
Grantown-on-Spey, in the square. The goal was to stir up interest in
Clan Grant and introduce Lord Strathspey to Speyside. Most people
thought the Earl of Seafield was Chief.
The Saturday afternoon
reception at Kinveachy Lodge was the highlight of the week.
We had the Grantown Pipe
band playing in the Kinveachy car park as people arrived. Everyone was
piped to the front door to a receiving line of The Strathspey's, George,
Lucille, John, Barbara, Hank & Linda Grant. Waiters moved through the
crowd with whiskey, wine, beer, & cokes. Long tables of hors d'oeuvres
were available.
It was the largest
gathering of Grants since the funeral of the Countess of Seafield. The
Grants of Rothiemurchus and Chief of the Grants met and spoke for the
first time in 200 years. All of the Grant families we visited earlier in
the week were there. Chief of the MacKenzies and "Lochiel" Cameron
attended. A short welcome speech by George Grant and Strathspey was the
only interruption.
All the Americans and
Strathspey felt we had been successful in rekindling interest in Clan
Grant in Speyside.
Patrick gave David
permission to start a clan society in Scotland. We Americans agreed to
support his efforts, financially and by sending our newsletter if
requested to members. In the first few years we sent money to David to
pay attorneys and other costs. After about 2 years the effort became
self supporting. We did send money to pay an architect, hired by David,
for drawings making Duthil into an apartment for James. We did not think
this was a good idea and did not agree to pay for the apartment.
The United States Branch
of the Society continues to support activities in Scotland. We sent over
$7000.00 to help pay for Duthil renovation. Within 24 hours of a request
by Sir Patrick Grant, Dalvey, we sent $1500.00 to help pay for the
feasibility study for Duthil. We maintain a Duthil Fund for
contributions from members year round. We sent over $800.00 this year.
It is our hope we can continue to co-operate toward sustaining and
improving our Worldwide Society.
History of the Society at
http://www.clangrant-us.org/ |
