Ainsley Smith Grant

CHESTER Mr. Ainsley Smith Grant, Sr., 80, passed away at his home on July 29, 2015.A funeral services will be 4:00 PM Saturday, August 1, 2015 at Armenia United Methodist Church with Reverend Eric Shepard.The family will briefly receive friends immediately following the service in the fellowship hall of the church.The interment will be held in the church cemetery with Masonic Rites. Born July 24, 1935 in Chester County, Mr. Grant was the son of the late A. Weldon Grant andLucille Hudson Grant.He attended Chester High School and then served in the United States Army where he was stationed in Korea.Mr. Grant retired from Borden Foods in 1997 after working there forty-two years. Ainsley was a Master Mason of Sandy River Lodge #207 for over forty years.He was Master of Sandy River in 1982, 1983, 1989, 1991, 1998 and 2001.He was District Deputy Grand Master representing the Grand Lodge of South Carolina from 1984 to 1986. Anything dealing with the lodge or Masonary, Ainsley was there to help.He was a wealth of knowledge and was instrumental in training new members. He also assisted new officers in learning their respective positions. He enjoyed cooking on his large BBQ grill for fund raisers and events.When he was unable to participate, he loaned his equipment and gave his full moral support to the lodge.Ainsley was an example of making a good man better. He is survivedby his loving wife of fifty-eight years, Sarah Wylie Grant; two sons, Ainsley S. Grant, Jr. and Richard L. Grant (Jolinda) both of Chester; one daughter, Jane G. Thompson of Chester; four grandsons, Richard L. Grant, Jr. and his wife Rosemary, Zacheree Grant and his wife Stephanie of PA, John Ainsley Grant and Lee Thompson; three granddaughters, Rachel M. Sosebee, Alexis R. Grant, Sarah Ainsley Keenan and one great granddaughter, Madyline Lucille Grant. Ainsley was a loving devoted son, brother, husband, father, uncle and friend.The family would like to express their thanks to Ms. Annie Bowsman, special caregiver and to Hospice of South Carolina. Memorials may be made to Sandy River Masonic Lodge #207 Scholarship Fund, C/O Jessie Lee, 1810 Grant Road, Chester, SC 29706.