Grooms, Meloise

Meloise “Nell” Grooms, 87, died Friday April 8, 2011 at Century Care. Born October 1, 1923 in Chesterfield County, SC, the daughter of the late John William and Callie Chavis Grooms. Mrs. Grooms retired with many years of service as a textile worker for Springs Mills in Laurel Hill. She loved her family, especially her grandchildren. She also enjoyed working in the garden, and in her home, and loved flowers. Nell was a people person who never met a stranger. She was an inspiration to all who knew her. Nell is survived by her daughters, JoAnne Smith of Laurinburg and Linda Herndon of Laurel Hill; her sisters, Peggy Robinson of Hamlet and Olevia Clark of Laurinburg; eight grandchildren, Tommy Taylor and Mark Smith both of Laurinburg, Timmy Taylor and wife Sue of Clover, SC, Tammy Pate and husband Keith of Laurinburg, Gregg Herndon, Keith Smith, and Shannon Westwood and husband Jeff all of Laurel Hill, and Kenneth Smith of Laurinburg; fourteen great-grandchildren, and ten great-great grandchildren. Mrs. Grooms was preceded in death by her first husband and father of her children, Noah “Fennie” Herndon, her second husband George Grooms, and two grandsons, Jamie Pruitt and Terry Taylor. The family will receive friends on Monday April 11, from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. the funeral home. The Funeral Service will be at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, at McDougald Funeral Home and Crematorium officiated by the Rev. Don Malpass and Rev. Kenneth Blease. Burial will follow the service at the Sandhills Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery in Laurel Hill.