Barbara Christian Grindle

Barbara Christian Grindle (July 13, 1943 - August 14, 2023)

Barbara was born the sixth of seven children to the late Almond Lee Christian, Sr. and Mamie Gertrude Hicks Christian in Lumpkin County. She is also preceded in death by sisters Magdalene Crowell and Betty Jean DuRyea and brothers James R (Bud) Christian, Charles H. Christian, and A L. Christian, Jr. After graduating high school she married Donald Grindle with whom she had three children. She spent the first part of her life raising her children.

She later became a registered dietician and ran the LCMS cafeteria from 1980-1986. In the fall of 1986 she enrolled at North Georgia College and completed a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education in three years, graduating with honors on the same day her youngest child graduated high school.

She taught in the Lumpkin County School System from 1989 until retiring in 2013, teaching at Blackburn Elementary and Long Branch Elementary. During that time she also completed her Masters in Education at NGC.

She was known as Granny, Mom, or Momma Grindle not only to her own family but to the many others that she welcomed into her home and her life over the years. In her retirement she was a volunteer in the White County Schools where she enjoyed reading to students, making Christmas crafts, selling ice cream, and assisting with the Backpack Buddies Program.   She was an active member of the Goodwill Circle, the Young At Heart Group, and JR Kannady’s Sunday School Class at Shoal Creek Baptist Church.  She proudly purchased and paid off her home in the Shoal Creek area of White County before moving to Laurel Lodge in Cleveland.

She was always on the go and loved to travel.  During her lifetime she made many memorable trips to destinations such as Iceland, Alaska, the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls and Yellowstone National Park.  She might be caught on a weekend trip with the Golden Girls (Ginger and Joyce) or her sister in law Lore Christian just setting out for the day and ending up in unplanned places and just spending the night.  

If you spent any amount of time with Barbara you quickly knew about her grandsons who were the light of her life.  She was always ready to go to a ballgame, marching band competition, or quiz bowl match as they got older or babysit when they were growing up.  She always had pictures to show and stories to share about their accomplishments and plans.   

She is survived by her children and their spouses, Donna (Karla) of Stone Mountain, Martha Kent of Cleveland, and David (Julie) of Baldwinsville, NY; grandsons Page Kent, St Petersburg, FL, Will Grindle (Caitlyn Strickert), Waltham, MA, Thomas Grindle, Orono, ME, and Jackson Kent, Cleveland, GA; a sister, Glenda Moffitt of Albuquerque, NM;  two sisters-in-law, Lois Christian of Elberton and Lore Christian of Dahlonega; and a multitude of nieces, nephews, and people whose lives she touched.

To honor Barbara the family requests donations be made to Backpack Buddies of White County (Atten. Amanda Lammers 136 Warriors Path, Cleveland, GA 30528), NE GA Health Systems Hospice, or the service non profit of your choice.

Thank you to NE GA Health Systems and Hospice for making her final days as comfortable as possible, in particular the nurses and staff on the Hospice floor and RN Michael Wells, for the care, love, and comfort shown to her and the entire family.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, September 3, 4pm at Barrett Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1pm-3pm before the service.

To share a memory or to leave an online condolence for the family, please visit www.barrettfh.com

Barrett Funeral Home of Cleveland.