Mary Etta Knaff Grimes – Chattanoogan.com

Mary Etta Knaff Grimes

Mary Etta Knaff Grimes, 66, director of the Office of Multicultural and International Student Services at Chattanooga State Community College, retired October 24, 2024.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Cleveland T. Grimes; her beloved family pet, Biscuit; brother, Anthony Hardin; father, Hurley Hardin; aunt Tommy Knaff; uncle, Reverend James Knaff; father-in-law, Malvin Grimes; mother-in-law Beatrice Nowells Grimes; brothers-in-law, George (Awanda) Grimes and Anthony Grimes; sister-in-law, Louise Obannon.

Mary attended Mount Zion Baptist Church where she was devoted to service, assisting the program committee. She was a welcome guest of Word of Life Baptist Church. Prior to his death, she and her husband, Cleveland T. Grimes, were active members of Olivet Baptist Church. As the wife of a founding member of the North River Soccer Association, Mary could often be found running the concession stand, assisting with registration, coordinating events, and much more. Mary graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She was a registered member of DeltaSigma Theta Sorority. As Director of Multicultural and International Services, Mary served international students and helped them enroll at Chattanooga State. She has facilitated hundreds of Chattanooga State students to learn about the world through study abroad and TnCIS.

During the pandemic, she provided our students with an international experience by bringing the Global Learning Collective virtual internship to the University. Mary has organized many multicultural festivals, such as Tiger World Fest, bringing global culture to the Chattanooga community. She was a steadfast volunteer at countless College events – Soul Food festivals, graduations, holiday lunches and most student activities.

She was called affectionately: “Nanny,” “Grandma,” “Mama,” “Mama,” “Pookie,” “Honee,” and “Murt.”

She leaves to cherish her memory her son, Julian Cleveland Grimes; daughter, Ryan Matisse Grimes; grandson, Cleveland Elisha Grimes; mother, Bobby Fritts Hyman, Knoxville, Tenn.; four sisters, Leslie Knaff, Bronx, N.Y.; Sandra Knaff, Knoxville, Tennessee; Elizabeth Fritts, Manassas, Virginia; Kimberly Hardin, Atlanta, Georgia; five brothers, Terry (Wanda) Knaff, Oak Ridge, Tn.; Melvin (Janice) Fritts, Brevard, NC; Dewayne Horton, Los Angeles, California; Hurley Hardin Jr., Atlanta, Georgia; Robert (Angela) Carr, Louisville, Kentucky; four brothers-in-law, Melvin (Dorothy) Grimes, Albert (Diane) Grimes, Jeffery Grimes, Jesse (Belinda) Grimes, all of Chattanooga; five sisters-in-law, Addie (James) Hill, Upper Marlboro, Md.; Denise (Marvin) Smith, Ooltewah; Renee Clack, Panama City Beach, Florida; Sara Grimes and Cassandra Lawler, Chattanooga, Tennessee; many other relatives and friends.

Flowers or memorial contributions may be sent to the John P. Franklin Funeral Home 1101 Dodds Ave., Chattanooga, Tn. 37404 or Olivet Baptist Church, 740 E. MLK Blvd., Chattanooga, Tn. 37403.

A public viewing will be held from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the John P. Franklin Funeral Home and the family will receive friends on Sunday, November 3, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on November 4 at Olivet Baptist Church, 740 E. MLK Blvd., with the Rev. Albert E. Grimes officiating. Burial will be in Hamilton Memorial Gardens.