Frances Delores Grimes was born on August 1, 1938, in Princeton, WV to the late William Washington and Dorothy (Gibson) Washington. She moved from Princeton, WV to Cleveland, OH after junior high school and graduated from East Technical High School.

At a young age, Frances married Roosevelt Wilson, Sr. and from their union she had Cherie Harris, Roosevelt Wilson, Jr. (deceased), and Derenne (Jeffrey) Martin.  She would go on to marry the love of her life, Samuel Grimes.

Frances believed in excelling in all that she did. She was honored with the Horseshoe Award.  Receiving the honor, taught her that this world saw her differently, because of the color of her skin.  Frances receive the same level of recognition and almost was refused the Horseshoe Award, the highest honor in her Junior High School.

Frances excelled in her career, while working for Cuyahoga County Department of Human Services.  She coordinated and organized youth programs like the Summer Youth Employment and Training Program (SYETP). When she was not working for the County, Frances was highly engaged in local politics.  She got her first taste while working for City Councilman George Forbes.  From being a precinct committeeman to working on local campaigns, she was engaged in the political process. 

Frances was a 27^th Ward club member where she founded the Women’s Committee. The Women’s Committee was committed to raising funds and campaigning for Black candidates at the local, state, and federal level. The Women’s Committee was instrumental in electing Mayor Carl B. Stokes.

After retiring from the County, she worked part time at Boulevard Elementary in Shaker Heights, OH, as a lunch aide for Mr. Raymont’s kindergarten class.  She was affectionately known as Grandma Grimes.  She also began to spend more time serving her church.

Frances was a great woman of faith and was baptized at an early age. She served as an usher at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church and later became a founding member of New Freedom Ministries, where she served as a communion and baptismal guardian. Frances frequently attended Mt. Olive Baptist Church’s daily 6am prayer service, where she was welcomed and built long time friendships.

Frances loved spending time with her grandchildren. Her greatest past time was shopping, and she was known for her hat collection.

Frances was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy Washington; father, William Washington, Sr; brother, William Washington, Jr; son, Roosevelt Wilson, Jr; and husband, Samuel Grimes.

Frances will forever be remembered by her daughters, Cherie Harris, Cleveland, OH and Derenne (Jeffrey) Martin, Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren, Chemberly Harris Cumming, Normal, IL, Chantal Harris, Cleveland, OH, Shardey Martin, Phoenix, AZ, Jarrell Martin, Phoenix, AZ, Jerrod Wilson, Johnson City, TN, Jahnae Martin Phoenix, AZ, Loving Wilson, Xenia, OH, Joshua Martin, Phoenix, AZ, Jasmine Wilson, Canton, OH and Dorian Wilson, Dover, OH; great-grandchildren, Jaidon Fuller, Adrian Jones, Jaxon Fuller, Aevrie Wilson-Hennis and Jonah Miller and a host of family and friends.