- Collection:
- Atlanta Funeral Programs Collection
- Title:
- A Service of Worship, Celebrating the Life of Rev. Thomas Pendleton Grissom, Sr., October 2, 1893- December 12, 1999, Friday, December 17, 1999, Eleven O' clock a.m., Central United Methodist Church, 501-7 Mitchell Street, S.W., Atlanta, Georgia, Reverend Joseph L. Crawford, Sr., Senior Pastor, Reverend Cynthia Vaughn, Associate Pastor
- Date of Original:
- 1999-12-17
- Subject:
- African American men--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
African Americans--Funeral customs and rites--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
Funeral rites and ceremonies--Georgia--Atlanta---History--20th century
Funeral service--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
Mourning customs--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta--Genealogy - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798
- Medium:
- church records
programs (documents)
records (documents) - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- Funeral program for Thomas Pendleton Grissom, Sr. Birth date: October 2, 1893. Death date: December 12, 1999. Funeral date: December 17, 1999. Church: Central United Methodist Church (Atlanta, Ga.). The Atlanta Funeral Programs Collection is a project of the Digital Library of Georgia in association with the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History as part of Georgia HomePLACE. The project is supported with federal LSTA funds administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Georgia Public Library Service, a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.
- Local Identifier:
- Folder number: 122
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:aarl_afpc_grissomthomaspendletonsr19991217
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:aarl_afpc_grissomthomaspendletonsr19991217
- Language:
- eng
- Extent:
- 1 page
- Holding Institution:
- Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History
- Rights:
-
- 1Jntennent -
LINCOLN CEMETERY 2275 Simpson Road~ N. \\' .
Atlanta~ Georgi<- 30314
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Grandsons Nephews
ltnnnrary 'all ia.earers
The Clergy of the North Georgia Annual Conference The United Methodist Church
9th District, Ga. Funeral Service Practioners Association Brothers of Ornega Psi Phi Fraternity
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Grand Children Great Grand Children
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The family of the late Rev. Thomas Pendleton Grissom, Sr. wishes to express their sincere appreciation for your prayers, your thoughtfulness, cooperation, kind deeds and concerns expressed in so many ways during the passing of our loved one. The Memory of these will warm our hearts in years to come _ We ask God's richest blessing for each of you.
- The Grissom Family
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ENTRUSTED TO:
~riBBnm-1En.sthtke 1Jiun.eral 3Jfnme
227 East Lake Drive, S. E. Atlanta, Georgia 30317 (404) 373-3191 Isaac Clark, Jr.
Funeral Director- In Charge
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October 2, 1893
December 12, 1999
Friday, December 17, 1999 Eleven 0' clock a.m.-
Qtrntral l!tnitr" 11R.et4nbist Ql4urt4 501-7 Mitchell Street, S. W_ Atlanta, Georgia
Reverend Joseph L. Crawford. Sr., Senior Pastor Reverend Cynthia Vaughn, Associate Pastor
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Thomas Pendleton Grissom, Sr. was born on October 2, 1893. He was he seventh child of eight children, three girls and five boys, born to former slaves, Frank and Hattie Grissom, who earned their living as sharecroppers in Fayette County, Georgia.
Having dropped out of school when he was 15, Thomas at age 21, completed the fifth grade in a one room school house in Kenwood, Georgia. With a gift of $10 from his father, he left home in 1916 to attend the Beulah Rucker Industrial School in Gainesville, Georgia where he completed the sixth and seventh grades. For two years, he taught at a rural school in Dahlonega, Georgia and was then promoted to teach in the city school. Desiring better preparation to teach his classes in the Gainesville school district, Mr. Grissom obtained a one month leave of absence to study at Clark College. However, once he got there, the president of Clark, Dr. Harry Andrews King, soon persuaded him to seek a formal education. Several years later, he left college during his junior year at Clark and worked as a Pullman railway car porter in New York. He later return to Georgia and received his graduation certificates from Clark College and Gammon Theological Seminary.
Rev. Grissom began preaching in 1930 in the all-black Georgia Conference of the Methodist church where he served eight churches, among them East Point, Fairburn, Centenary, College Park, Griffin, Whites Chapel, and Ariel Bowen. He also served six years as District Superintendent of the Rome District, Rev, Grissom became one of Atlanta's original radio ministers as he was often heard on station WERD in the1950s.
Although retired from church he was not retired from ministry. He overcame many odds, including a paralyzing stroke in 1969, to become the founding president of Grissom Funeral Home on East Lake Drive in southeast Atlanta in 1974. His ministry of pastoral care for the bereaved and suffering was extended through his role as mortuary minister.
Officially retired from the church after 35 years of formal service, Rev. Grissom remained active as Elder-in-Residence at Central United Methodist Church and faithfully attended the North Georgia Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church through June, 1998. Reverend T. P. Grissom, Sr. died on Sunday, December 12, 1999 at Manor Care Facility in Decatur, Ga., approximately 12:55 pm-just as the morning worship service was ending.
Rev. Grissom was married to Caudia Anderson (deceased) to which two sons were born, Rev. Dr. Thomas P. (Gwen) Grissom, Jr. of New York and Richard Harold (Lillie) Grissom of Atlanta. His loving helpmate and devoted wife of more than 50 years is Mrs. Arry Cornell Blasingame Wright Grissom, a native of Senaca, South Carolina.
Other survivors are eight grandchildren: Terry Grissom, Caudia Grissom, Gwendolyn Grissom, Angela (Benjamin) Rowe, Timothy (Jennifer) Butler, Alfred (Penny) Butler, Douglas (Tanya) Butler, Ill ar.d Cynthia (Victor) Barnett; 16 Great-grandchildren, Nieces, Nephews other relatives and friends.
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The Reverend Joseph L. Crawford, Sr. Presiding
THE PRELUDE
"Hymns Of Faith"
THE PROCESSIONAL
THE GREETING
THE HYMN No. 128 "He Leadeth Me"
THE INVOCATION
THE ANTHEM ...........................................................................................The Central Mass Choir
THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Isaiah 40:}-8; 28-31 ................................. Rev. Cynthia Vaughn Associate Pastor Central UMC
THE WORDS OF TRIBUTE Bishop L. Scott Allen
Retired - The United Methodist Church
Bishop Cornelius L. Henderson Resident Bishop- The Florida Area
Bishop James S. Thomas Retired -The United Methodist Church
THE SOLO... ~ ........................."His Eye Is On The Sparrow"................. .. .......... Mr. Richard Morton
THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON
THE PASTORAL PRAYER...........................................................................Dr. Walter Kimbrough Senior Pastor Cascade UMC
THE WORDS OF REMEMBRANCE Dr. Thomas W. Cole, Jr.
President Clark Atlanta University
Dr. Joseph J. Lowery
Dr. Samuel DuBois Cook
Retired Clergy-The United Methodist Church Retired President of Dillard University
SOLO................. ... ....... "We Shall Behold Him"...................................................Ms. Karen Lowery
THE WORDS OF THANKSGIVING Rev. Joseph L. Crawford, Sr.
Pastor Central United Methodist Church
Dr. Thomas P. Grissom, Jr. Retired Clergy, The Methodist Church
THE GOSPEL LESSON THE APOSTLES CREED THE ANTHEM ...........................................................................................The Central Mass Choir
THE EULOGY..............................................................................................Dr. Rodney Smothers Senior Pastor, Ousley UMC
A MEDLEY of Daddy's Favorite Hymns "Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross" "Pass Me Not, 0 Gentle Saviour" "Blessed Assurance"
THE HYMN................................................................................."Guide Me 0 Thou Great Jehova" THE RECESSIONAL THE POSTLUDE