ATMORE – Mary Elizabeth Joyner Grissett, lifelong resident of Atmore, Alabama, died Wednesday, Sept. 21 in Pensacola, Fla.

Mrs. Grissett, a graduate of Escambia County High School and the University of Alabama, was a devoted educator, community leader and volunteer with a passion for education.

After 25 years of teaching with the Escambia County School System, she retired and taught English and literature for two years at Escambia Academy. She was a founder of the Academic All-Star Program and named Atmore Citizen of the Year in 1991.  Mrs. Grissett was an active member of Atmore First United Methodist Church, a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, board member of Atmore Public Library, a founding member of the Escambia County Friends of Education and director of HIPPY Atmore.

Mrs. Grissett is preceded in death by her father and mother, W.S. (Buster) & Sarah Joyner, and her father-in-law, William (Bill) E. Grissett.

Mrs. Grissett is survived by her mother-in-law, Mary O. Grissett (Bill) of Brewton, Alabama; her husband, William, daughter, Amy Dean (Michael) of Atmore; son Scott (Lindy) of Pensacola, Fla.; grandchildren, Caitlan, Mary Joyner, Will and Lane; brother, Bob Joyner (Rhonda) of Merritt Island, Fla.; sister Sissy Birindelli (Joe) of Fairhope; brother W.S. (BB) Joyner (Susan) of Franklin, Tenn.; sister Ruth Dickerson (Paul) of Atmore; and sister Julia Gibbs of Atmore.

Pall bearers are David Brantley, Jimmy Crook, Mike Helton, Jim Johnson, Bob Jones, Tommy Moore, Randy Nichols and Joe Webb.

Honorary pall bearers include Mitch Jones, Jane Corman, Carol Crook, Gabby Dortch, Susan Jansen, Julie Johnson, Betty Jones, Bonnie Latino, Jan Marsh, Bess Maxwell, Toni McMurphy, Laurie Moore, Susan Moorehead, Emily Pollard, Mary Bess Powell, Mary Reece, Diane Rose, Libby Schrader, Janet Shirley, Susan Smith, Marie Strohl, Ida Swift and Shirley West.

Visitation was held at Johnson-Quimby Friday, Sept. 23 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.. Funeral services will be today, Sept. 24 at 10 a.m. at Atmore First United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Atmore First United Methodist Church, 311 South Pensacola Avenue, Atmore, Alabama 36502; Atmore Public Library, 700 East Church Street, Atmore, Alabama 36502; or Escambia County Friends of Education (Friends of Education of Escambia County Inc) PO Box 186, Atmore, Alabama 36502.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc in charge of all arrangements. Atmore, Al.