Alice Grimsley

Obituary of Alice Stewart Grimsley

Alice Stewart Grimsley, 73, of Yonges Island, passed away March 22, 2023, surrounded by her family.  She was predeceased by her parents, Larry McKee and Corrie Jane Stewart, and her sister, Cornelia Hope Bond.  She is survived by her high school sweetheart and husband of 52 years, Richard J. Grimsley, Jr, son, Richard J. Grimsley, III of New Jersey, and sister, Ann Cario Hurley of Charleston. 

Born on November 13, 1949, Alice graduated from Garrett High School then obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Winthrop College and a Master's Degree in Biology from The Citadel.  A former high school art teacher, Alice was loved by her students and recognized for her talent as a local artist.  After retiring from Charleston County School District, she enjoyed a successful career as a fine artist.  Her business accomplishments included being co-owner of the Pink House Gallery in Charleston and an exhibiting member of Lowcountry Artists, Ltd.  Throughout her career as an artist, Alice served as the Artist in Residence for the South Carolina Arts Commission and a member of the Charleston Artist Guild.  Her work on Yonges Island included art classes and consulting on the founding of the Edisto Art Guild. 

Alice, a native of Charleston, lived on Swinton Creek on Yonges Island where she was inspired by the waterways and backroads of the Lowcountry.  Her watercolors, created in her home studio, reveal her devotion to preserving history and the beauty of South Carolina.  As a young artist under the tutelage of  Corrie McCallum and William Halsey, after whom the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art is named, Alice fell in love with the architecture and antiquity of the city as evidenced in many of her works.  Her ability to capture on canvas the play of light and shadow of an oak-lined dirt road, the intensity of color of a blue crab, or the contrasting values of the marsh conveyed her love for the Lowcountry and became the recognizable signatures of her compositions.  Many of Alice's paintings of local architecture include brightly colored, cheerful Lowcountry scenes often with her well-loved "kitties”.


Devoted wife, loving mother, and compassionate friend, Alice's life was filled with laughter and stories.  She loved to learn of the personal history of each person she met while making new friends.  Alice's love for the Lowcountry and its people, friends and strangers alike, will forever be captured in her paintings.  


In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to ProMedica Hospice Serving The Low Country, 7410 Northside Drive, North Charleston, SC 29420 --Phone -- 843-766-7646.   A Memorial Service to celebrate Alice's life will be held at Christ St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 4981 Chapel Road, Hollywood, SC 29449, where she shared her other gift of music by playing the flute for early morning services.  The service will be held on Friday, May 12th , 2023 at 10:00am in the morning.  

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