Maymie Grissom

Lady May, Mama May, Ms. May, Maymie or Mrs. Grissom, or by the Masonic family fondly and dearly by a title before the name Grissom or by her church family as sister Grissom.

Maymie Burnell Grissom was born Maymie Burnell Taylor to Samuel Frank Taylor and Martha Penn Taylor in Somerset, Kentucky.  She was the youngest of five siblings and attended Bourbon Elementary School and Paul Dunbar High School in Somerset, Kentucky.

She met William Burkeen Grissom while at Dunbar High School, where she was a cheerleader.  She also attended First Baptist Church of Somerset where she sang in the choir.  Bill and May married and had four daughters over the course of 58 years of wedded bliss.

May worked for ten (10) years in Civil Service at North Island Naval Air Station.  While working and raising a family, she also attended college.  She graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelors, then a Master’s Degree in Social Work in 1978.  She also pursued a doctoral degree at National University.  May owned and operated an around-the-clock childcare facility for 20 years, servicing all families including those with special needs.

She joined Simon Peter Johnson #78 in April 1976 and served as Worthy Matron in 1990. Beginning on November 4,1977, Maymie Burnell joined the Daughters of Azeem Court No. 104, Oasis of San Diego, Desert of California, Daughters of the Imperial Court, an Auxiliary of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine of North America and South America and Its Jurisdictions, Inc., Prince Hall Affiliated. She participated for over 40 years until 2013 due to health issues. May (to her family and friends) was an active participant in Azeem Court #104. She served her Court well and for all of her accomplishments, she was given the title of Honorary Imperial Commandress for the Daughters Imperial Courts. She was a driving force on the Imperial Court level. She worked on local, regional and Imperial Committees.  May served various stations throughout the Court and then established a “Crown” to serve as the Illustrious Commandress in 2001. She became a Lifetime Member of our Court in 2007. She received honorary degrees in 1985 and 1992.  May continued to attend Imperial Council until 2013.

May, alongside Bill as Grand Worthy Patron, served as Worthy Matron and was a member of Ada B. Cleveland Chapter 71 Order of the Eastern Star, PHRA and Golden Circle Silver Strand Assembly Chapter 91.

Both of her parents, as well as her two brothers and two sisters, preceded her in death.  Maymie Grissom will be dearly missed by her beloved family, which includes her daughters:  Lativia (Bruce) Stinshoff, Dameda (Malcolm) Elliott Scott, Byllie (Michael Sr.) Richardson, Marta (Jenny) Grissom, and her six grandchildren: Naomi (Amanda) Elliott, William Burkeen Grissom Alexander, Malcolm Elliott, Jr., Michael Richardson, Jr., Jordon Richardson, and Aaron Richardson; and extended family: Carmen (Robin) Sylva and Christie (Melanie) James; as well as her nieces, nephews, friends and fellow educators.

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