Dr. Jimmy Randall "Randy" Grant

Dr. Jimmy Randall “Randy” Grant

WOODRUFF- Dr. Jimmy Randall “Randy” Grant, 74, of 2040 S.J. Workman Highway went home to be with the Lord, Friday, May 26, 2023, following a tragic accident.

  He was born October 5, 1948, in Woodruff to the late Nelson and Ruby Littlefield Grant.  He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Woodruff and served in the United States Air Force from 1970 to 1974. He was a 1966 graduate of Woodruff High School; he received his B.A. from Wofford College in 1970, his M. Ed., from the University of South Carolina in 1979, his M.A. (History) from the University of South Carolina in 1997 and his Ph. D. (History) from the University of South Carolina in 2006.

  Surviving is his wife, Beth Rentz Grant of the home; one daughter, Carmen Grant Duncan (Bobby); one son, Rex Grant (Katy Hamrick); grandchildren, Natalie Lewis Watson (Anthony), Carson Duncan, Maddie Grant (Mason Cockrell) and Lilly Duncan (Damarian Elmore); great-grandchildren, Luke Watson, and Millie Kate Watson.

  Dr. Grant taught in the public school system, teaching at Duncan Elementary School from 1974 to 1979, Woodruff Junior High School from 1979 to 1984 and Woodruff High School from 1984 to 1987.  He served as Assistant Principal at Woodruff Primary School from 1987 to 2000.  Dr. Grant served as Adjunct Professor at several colleges and universities from 2001 to 2022, serving the majority of the time at Spartanburg Methodist College and Spartanburg Community College.

  Dr (Coach) Grant served as assistant seventh and eighth grade football coach from 1979 to 1984, head coach for the seventh and eighth grade girls’ basketball team in 1984, head varsity girls basketball coach from 1985 to 1987, head coach of the varsity girls’ volleyball (first team in the history of the school) in 1985 and assistant varsity baseball coach from 1985 to 1986.  Coach Grant served as football statistician for Woodruff High School from 1979 to 1996 and resumed in 2006 to current.

  Dr. Grant was a member of Cavins Masonic Lodge #226 AFM and was Past Master in 1976, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2003.  He was Past District Deputy Grand Master from 2000 to 2002.  Dr. Grant was currently Vice Chairman of the Spartanburg County School District 4 Board of Trustees and currently serving on the Board of Trustees at R.D. Anderson Applied Technology Center.

  A visitation for Dr. Grant will be held Friday, June 2, 2023, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Lanford-Gwinn Mortuary, 257 North Main Street, Woodruff.

  A Celebration of Dr. Grant’s Life will be held Saturday, June 3, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the Woodruff High School Gymnasium officiated by his brother-in-law, Rev. Dr. Jim Rentz.  Masonic Rites will be rendered by Cavins Masonic Lodge #226 AFM.

  Serving as Honorary Escorts will be his former Girls’ Varsity Basketball and Volleyball players at Woodruff High School, The Spartanburg County District Four School Board of Trustees, The R.D. Anderson Applied Technology Center’s Board of Trustees, Cavins Masonic Lodge #226 AFM and The Woodruff High School Class of 1966.

  In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Woodruff High School Athletic Alumni Association c/o The Spartanburg County Foundation, 424 East Kennedy Street, Spartanburg, S.C. 29302 or online at www.spcf.org.

  The family is at the residence, 2040 S.J. Workman Highway, Woodruff.

  Lanford-Gwinn Mortuary