Elaine Grant Alexander

Katherine Elaine Grant Alexander devoted wife, loving mother, doting grandmother and proud great-grandmother, 93 of Cary, NC, passed away on the morning of September 10, 2020 at the home of her daughter Katherine McCumber in Lake Wylie, SC.

Elaine was predeceased by her husband, Marion Arthur “Artie” Alexander Jr, in June 2006; two brothers: Wilson and Don Grant; two sisters: Ruth Grant Owens and Eleanor Grant Chafin. She is survived by her sister, Annette Grant Kmetz; a son Marion Arthur Alexander III and his wife Rebeccah; and a daughter Katherine Alexander McCumber and her husband Randy; seven grandchildren: Laurel Elaine Alexander (40), Stacey Allison Alexander (37), Matthew Ryan Thomas (34), Marion Arthur Alexander IV (33), Joshua Alexander Thomas (30), Christopher James Oren Alexander (30), and Hayley Katherine Thomas (29); and three great granddaughters: Colette Grace Jarmon (12), Matilyn Ray Thomas (10), and Karina Quinn Jarmon (9).

Elaine was born in Marianna, Florida to James William Grant and Laura Belle Davis Grant, on December 4, 1926, the 4th of 6 children. She attended Marianna High School, studied secretarial science and graduated in 1944. Artie was in the US Army Air Force stationed in Marianna. So, it was in Marianna that they met and their love flourished. After she and Artie were married in February 1946 at Marianna Methodist Church, she moved to his home in Raleigh, NC. Although she lived far away, she remained a Marianna girl at heart, returning every summer and sometimes for Christmas. For over 40 years she worked as a secretary and retired as a Head Administrative Secretary and Office Manager of the Department of Computer Science, North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC.

The word that best describes Elaine is love. Her life radiated love to all who knew her: her love for Christ, her love for her family; the love she gave and the love she passed on through her actions. The love she gave her children shaped them into parents who passed that love on to her grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren--a living testimony to the power of love through a single individual to generations yet unborn. Elaine did not think that she was anyone special, but those of us who were lucky enough to know her, knew differently. We knew that she was a very special person and one of God's greatest gifts to us all. "And the greatest of these is love."

A graveside funeral service will be held at Marvin Chapel Freewill Baptist Church cemetery in Marianna, Florida at 11:30 am on Saturday, September 19, 2020, with visitation preceding the service from 10:00-11:00 at Marianna Chapel Funeral Home, 3960 US-90, Marianna, FL 32446.

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