d/o Millard Fillmore Adkins and Lelia Jane Adkins Adkins

Spouse of Richard Allen 'Dick' Grass

Children: Rita Jane Grass Hart, Virginia Sue Grass Parsons, Wayne Allen Grass and Linda Lee Grass Smith

Dorothy Beatrice Grass, 96, of Yawkey passed away April 8, 2009, at home, surrounded by her loving family.
Bea, as she was affectionately known, was born May 15, 1912, in Midkiff, and was the fifth of 10 children of the late Millard Fillmore and Lelia Jane Adkins. Bea was also preceded in death by her husband of 31 years, Richard 'Dick' Allen Grass, who died Dec. 23, 1970; three sisters, Marie Brooks, Faye Gandee and Lillian Hicks; and three brothers, Griff, Joel and Leonard.

Survivors include four children, Jane (the late John) Hart of Summerville, S.C., Sue (Nello) Parsons of Graniteville, S.C., Wayne (Patricia) of Yawkey and Linda (Charles) Smith of Alum Creek; two sisters, Lucille Miller of New Cumberland and Edith Moore of Hamersville, Ohio; one brother, Lou Adkins of Georgetown, Ohio; 10 grandchildren, John Hart, Jennifer Hart Moreland, Jason Hart, Michael Parsons, Steve Parsons, Greg Parsons, Shawnda Grass Whitten, David Grass, Allen Smith and Angie Smith Christian; 21 great-grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Bea graduated from Carroll District High School, now Hamlin High School, in 1931, at the beginning of the Great Depression. Bea worked for the WPA, the Works Progress Administration, as a supervisor of sewing rooms in Hamlin, Branchland and Ranger. She taught in one-room schools in Lincoln County and became the secretary at Duval High School while each of her four children attended the school. She was appointed postmaster at Griffithsville and worked there until her retirement. Bea had the most fun of her life traveling around the world with other retired postmasters. On these trips, she was baptized again in the Jordan River, rode a camel in the desert and traveled throughout the United States. Bea loved her church, the Amy Baptist Church, Yawkey, where she was a longtime member. She was a member of the Hamlin Woman's Club. Bea especially loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and took great pride in their accomplishments.

Funeral service will be 3 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek, with Pastors Forrest Curry and Butch Leadmon officiating. Burial will follow in May Cemetery, Griffithsville.

Family and friends will gather from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Our family thanks the supportive staff of Hospice of Huntington, her caregivers, Sandy, Crystal and Shirley; and many family and friends who sent cards, flowers and food. God bless you.