Grace Grissom, co-founder of Mrs. Grissom's Salads Inc., died Sunday at her Nashville home after a short illness. She was 94.
She served as president for 50 years of Mrs. Grissom's Salads, the company known for its packaged chicken and tuna salads and pimento cheese spread. Mrs. Grissom remained active in the family business for almost six decades and maintained regular office hours at the company's headquarters until a few days before her death.
Mrs. Grissom was born on Aug. 19, 1918, in Meigs County, Tenn. After a brief stint working as a secretary for Southern Railway Co. in Knoxville, she and her husband moved to Nashville to become partners in a friend's food business. The couple purchased the business and launched Mrs. Grissom's Salads in 1955.
The two worked long hours, stopping in to work on Saturday and Sunday, and didn't take a vacation for 10 years.
"In the first place, we couldn't afford it," Mrs. Grissom told The Tennessean in 2005. "In the second place, we didn't have time."
Mrs. Grissom retired after 50 years in 2005 at age 86, and Kenneth Funger, her son-in-law, was named the company's CEO. Even after her retirement, Mrs. Grissom remained a mainstay at the Bransford Avenue facility to ensure the consistency and quality of the company's products.
She was considered a pioneer in the business world during the 1950s, when few women ran their own companies.
"She and her husband were the amazing American success story," Funger said.
"She was so far ahead of her time, as far as what women were expected to do in society in the 1950s. I think she was always a bit surprised by her success."
Mrs. Grissom was preceded in death by her first husband, Herbert Grissom, and their two daughters, Herberta Grissom and Sylvia Funger. Survivors include husband Frank Evans, sister Gladys Tallent and other relatives.
She served as president for 50 years of Mrs. Grissom's Salads, the company known for its packaged chicken and tuna salads and pimento cheese spread. Mrs. Grissom remained active in the family business for almost six decades and maintained regular office hours at the company's headquarters until a few days before her death.
Mrs. Grissom was born on Aug. 19, 1918, in Meigs County, Tenn. After a brief stint working as a secretary for Southern Railway Co. in Knoxville, she and her husband moved to Nashville to become partners in a friend's food business. The couple purchased the business and launched Mrs. Grissom's Salads in 1955.
The two worked long hours, stopping in to work on Saturday and Sunday, and didn't take a vacation for 10 years.
"In the first place, we couldn't afford it," Mrs. Grissom told The Tennessean in 2005. "In the second place, we didn't have time."
Mrs. Grissom retired after 50 years in 2005 at age 86, and Kenneth Funger, her son-in-law, was named the company's CEO. Even after her retirement, Mrs. Grissom remained a mainstay at the Bransford Avenue facility to ensure the consistency and quality of the company's products.
She was considered a pioneer in the business world during the 1950s, when few women ran their own companies.
"She and her husband were the amazing American success story," Funger said.
"She was so far ahead of her time, as far as what women were expected to do in society in the 1950s. I think she was always a bit surprised by her success."
Mrs. Grissom was preceded in death by her first husband, Herbert Grissom, and their two daughters, Herberta Grissom and Sylvia Funger. Survivors include husband Frank Evans, sister Gladys Tallent and other relatives.
Grace Grissom, co-founder of Mrs. Grissom's Salads Inc., died Sunday at her Nashville home after a short illness. She was 94.
She served as president for 50 years of Mrs. Grissom's Salads, the company known for its packaged chicken and tuna salads and pimento cheese spread. Mrs. Grissom remained active in the family business for almost six decades and maintained regular office hours at the company's headquarters until a few days before her death.
Mrs. Grissom was born on Aug. 19, 1918, in Meigs County, Tenn. After a brief stint working as a secretary for Southern Railway Co. in Knoxville, she and her husband moved to Nashville to become partners in a friend's food business. The couple purchased the business and launched Mrs. Grissom's Salads in 1955.
The two worked long hours, stopping in to work on Saturday and Sunday, and didn't take a vacation for 10 years.
"In the first place, we couldn't afford it," Mrs. Grissom told The Tennessean in 2005. "In the second place, we didn't have time."
Mrs. Grissom retired after 50 years in 2005 at age 86, and Kenneth Funger, her son-in-law, was named the company's CEO. Even after her retirement, Mrs. Grissom remained a mainstay at the Bransford Avenue facility to ensure the consistency and quality of the company's products.
She was considered a pioneer in the business world during the 1950s, when few women ran their own companies.
"She and her husband were the amazing American success story," Funger said.
"She was so far ahead of her time, as far as what women were expected to do in society in the 1950s. I think she was always a bit surprised by her success."
Mrs. Grissom was preceded in death by her first husband, Herbert Grissom, and their two daughters, Herberta Grissom and Sylvia Funger. Survivors include husband Frank Evans, sister Gladys Tallent and other relatives.
She served as president for 50 years of Mrs. Grissom's Salads, the company known for its packaged chicken and tuna salads and pimento cheese spread. Mrs. Grissom remained active in the family business for almost six decades and maintained regular office hours at the company's headquarters until a few days before her death.
Mrs. Grissom was born on Aug. 19, 1918, in Meigs County, Tenn. After a brief stint working as a secretary for Southern Railway Co. in Knoxville, she and her husband moved to Nashville to become partners in a friend's food business. The couple purchased the business and launched Mrs. Grissom's Salads in 1955.
The two worked long hours, stopping in to work on Saturday and Sunday, and didn't take a vacation for 10 years.
"In the first place, we couldn't afford it," Mrs. Grissom told The Tennessean in 2005. "In the second place, we didn't have time."
Mrs. Grissom retired after 50 years in 2005 at age 86, and Kenneth Funger, her son-in-law, was named the company's CEO. Even after her retirement, Mrs. Grissom remained a mainstay at the Bransford Avenue facility to ensure the consistency and quality of the company's products.
She was considered a pioneer in the business world during the 1950s, when few women ran their own companies.
"She and her husband were the amazing American success story," Funger said.
"She was so far ahead of her time, as far as what women were expected to do in society in the 1950s. I think she was always a bit surprised by her success."
Mrs. Grissom was preceded in death by her first husband, Herbert Grissom, and their two daughters, Herberta Grissom and Sylvia Funger. Survivors include husband Frank Evans, sister Gladys Tallent and other relatives.
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