Mr. Rufus Lee Grant died June 23. The son of the late Mrs. Fozzie Jackson Smith and Mr. Alonzo Grant, he was born in 1921 in Jasper County. He joined Greenwood Baptist Church, Shady Dale, at an early age. He was a faithful member and had a strong religious upbringing. He served on the Deacon Board faithfully until his health failed. A World War II veteran, he served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946. He retired from Hanover Wire and Cloth in 1986. He was preceded in death by wife Sarah Elizabeth Hardeman and siblings J.C. Grant and Daisy Lee Grant, both of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Surviving are children Mr. and Mrs. Arthur (Angela) Spencer, Mr. Michael Grant, Mr. Marlon Grant, Mr. and Mrs. Harold (Melinda) Parks III; grandchildren Gregory Tuggle Jr., Takeita Tuggle Bell, Timothy Parks, Jamal Jeffries, all of Covington; children Mr. and Mrs. Robert (Barbara Ann) Jones, Mr. Rufus Lee Grant Jr., Mr. and Mrs. John Edward (Deborah) Grant, Ms. Theresa Grant Gilbert, Ms. Pamela Grant; 12 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren, all of Decatur; a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at noon June 28 at Bethlehem Baptist church with the Rev. Johnny Hutchinson and the Rev. Jimmy smith officiating. Interment followed at New Covington Cemetery.

The Covington News July 2, 2008