Dr. Jimmie Richard Grimsley, 70, passed away Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at home. Jimmie was born on July 17, 1944, in Wilson County, where he grew up on a tobacco farm. After graduating from Saratoga Central High School in 1962, he attended East Carolina University on a football scholarship. After receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees from East Carolina, he attended the University of Georgia where he earned his Doctorate in Education. His entire career was spent at East Carolina University, beginning as a Graduate Assistant and culminating as an Associate Professor Emeritus in the College of Health and Human Performance. Early in his tenure at ECU, he served as Tennis Coach and Soccer Coach. One of the most important things about his job was working with and advising students. He always made himself available to assist students and they often sought him out long after they left East Carolina. Jimmie also was very active in the community, serving on numerous Boards, including Pitt County Educational Foundation Advisory Board, the Greenville Babe Ruth Board of Directors, the Greenville Little League Board of Directors, J.H. Rose Athletic Foundation, Bradford Creek Golf Advisory Committee, and the Paramore Homeowners Association Board. He was a founding member and former President of the Pitt-Greenville Hot Stove Baseball League. Jimmie was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, teacher, mentor, and friend. He loved his job, loved working with ECU students and advisees, and loved going out to watch a baseball game. He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church and was a loyal East Carolina Pirate, serving as official clock operator for both Pirate football and basketball games for over 40 years. As involved as Jimmie was in the Greenville and East Carolina community, nothing gave him greater joy than spending time with his four grandchildren and watching them play on a baseball field or soccer field. His grandchildren knew him as Pop and their love for him was evident each time they saw him. Jimmie is survived by his wife of 48 years, the former Barbara Jean Harrell of Saratoga; daughter Susan Grimsley Stephens and husband Brent of Winston-Salem, and their sons Luke Thomas and Matthew Jacob; son Jimmie Richard Grimsley, Jr. Richie and wife Ashley of Cary, and their daughters Alissa Blake Ali and Brooke Harper; sister Dorothy Ann Harrell Dotsie of Wilson; mother-in-law Ida Rose Harrell of Saratoga; sisters-in-law Mary Harrell McGee and husband Jim of Asheville and Betty Harrell Wooten and husband John of Wilson. He was preceded in death by his parents Johnie James and Flora Hardison Grimsley; brothers Edwin Earl Boody Grimsley, Joseph Wayne Swag Grimsley, Johnnie William Dokey Grimsley, and Donnie Hugh Grimsley; and a sister, Ruby Christine Mutt Hayes.
The funeral service will be conducted Saturday at 11:00 am at Wilkerson Funeral Home officiated by Dr. Scott Connor. A graveside service will be held after the service at Evergreen Memorial Garden in Wilson, NC. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Wilkerson Funeral Home, Greenville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made payable to the ECU Foundation Jimmie R. Grimsley Scholarship Fund, c/o Tammy Garris, Greenville Centre, Room 2211, ECU, 2200 South Charles Blvd., Greenville, NC 27858 or The Pitt-Greenville Hot Stove League, c/o Chuck Humphrey, 1317 Sonata Street, Greenville, NC 27858. Online condolences at www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com.
Grimsley had been heavily involved in East Carolina and local high school athletics, including helping with scoreboard operation at ECU football and basketball games for Vincent's estimation of 40 years.
At the high school level, Grimsley helped with the training of officials and was a former director of the NCHSAA basketball Eastern Regionals when they were held at J.H. Rose and ECU.