Margaret Katherine “Kay” (Graves) Grice

5/19/1944 – 7/23/2021

Margaret Katherine “Kay” (Graves) Grice, age 77, passed away peacefully at her home in Darden, TN on Friday, July 23 rd, 2021 surrounded by loved ones after bravely fighting a long battle with cancer.

Kay leaves behind one daughter, Beverly Kay Duke Stanfill (George); one granddaughter, Kayla Stanfill Bynum (Eric); and two great-granddaughters, Molly Kay Bynum and Faith Delane Bynum. She is preceded in death by her parents, Leon Graves and Rosalind Stevens Graves; and her brother, Danny Lee Graves. She is survived by two sisters, Rosa Graves Hamm (David), and Vickie Graves Shutt; and a sister-in-law, Glenda Graves. She also leaves behind numerous beloved nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

Kay arrived on Earth in 1944 on May 19 th as the first of four children born to the late Leon and Rosalind Graves. Kay was a Darden, TN native, living for a while in West Memphis, AR and in Jackson, TN. Kay was an employee of Brown Shoe Co. from 1959 until 1973, when she accepted the challenge to work for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in their retail store in Lexington, TN. Kay advanced her career with Goodyear and became one of the first female General Managers with the Company. Kay held the position of GM at the retail store in Jackson until she retired.

After her first retirement, Kay pursued a different career where she became the co-owner of the Western Sizzlin’ restaurant in Lexington, TN, after reopening the then-closed business and serving as the Operations Manager until she again retired and sold the business. Kay then enjoyed doing part-time interior design work for many years. More important to her than anything, she was a full-time Christian, attending church at The Pentecostal Church of Darden.

Kay always kept herself busy: testifying about Jesus to all who would listen, serving as a greeter at her church, visiting nursing homes and the sick to offer comfort and prayer, and always lending a helping hand with any projects or needs with her church, community, or in the lives of her friends and loved ones.

Kay was always known as a “talker.” She never met a stranger. Kay was a hard worker and a sharp dresser. She loved to make things beautiful. Her home was a showplace inside and out-earning the City Beautiful Award in Jackson, TN several times. Once retired, Kay again made her home in Darden, TN, remodeling her parents’ home on Corinth Rd., which she also made beautiful with stunning flowers and landscaping.

To know Kay was to love her! She found good in everyone. She was a loving and loyal friend. If you were lucky enough to be her friend or family member, you were blessed. Kay was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. As her daughter, I have lost my best friend and will miss her forever. During her illness, she was very brave, consoled me, and worried about leaving her family. I love you, Mama. Go fly high and may you have the most beautiful wings, as you so deserve.

Services: A Funeral Service will be held Sunday, July 25, 2021 at 4:00pm at The Pentecostal Church of Darden with pastors Ronnie Parrish and Jon Mark Parrish officiating. Visitation with family and friends will be Saturday, July 24 th , 2021 from 1:30pm until 8:00pm, and again on Sunday, July 25 th from 9:00am until the service time at 4:00pm. The family asks that any donations given in Kay’s memory go to her favorite organizations: The Pentecostal Church of Darden or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.