Mary Anna Grinnage

MaryAnna Todd Grinnage, age 81 of Middletown, DE experienced the ultimate healing when God called her on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 to continue her life with him. Born in Middletown, September 16, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Oscar C. and Clara Blackiston Todd. She was the 4th youngest of 17 children born of this union. She was a liftime area resident. She received her formative education in the Louis L. Redding School in Middletown. After graduating from high school she went to work in the Defense Plant in Elkton, Maryland. After that, she worked in Philadelphia and Ardmore, Pa for a private family coming home every weekend to look after her parents and seeing that they had the modern comforts of the time. After 30 years of doing domestic work for the same families in the Newark area, she retired to continue to bake her large cakes and desserts for the church and community. On July 6, 1960, MaryAnna was united in holy matrimony to Solomon A. "Shorty" Grinnage. From this union one child, Wendell A. Grinnage, was born. She was a life long member of Dales United Methodist Church. She was a very active, faithful, supportive member, serving on many committees, boards, and other work of the church. She was an ambassador in welcoming people in her life and Dales Church. She was a member of M.O.T. Senior Center. She was the neighborhood advisor to all the children and grownups. A friendly hello to "AuntMaryAnna or Miss MaryAnna", and as one relative called her, the "Spoiler"-she spoiled everything she touched. She loved having persons visiting her home, especially her many relatives and friends. Having over 100 direct nieces and nephews, she had the God given gift to make one of them feel special and loved, still there was room left for the adopted ones for "AuntMaryAnna or Miss MaryAnna" to share and be the favorite. She was a lover of crafts, gadgets, shopping, and traveling with her nieces and friends. "AuntMaryAnna or Miss MaryAnna" she was a mom, aunt, sister, cousin, and friend to a host of those who had the good fortune to know her. She was sociable, kind, considerate, and understanding. Her circle of friends was wide. She was predeceased by her husband Solomon "Shorty" who died January 1991. She leaves to cherish her beautiful memory, her only son Wendell A. and daughter-in-law Sandra W. of Middletown, one sister Cassie T. Smallwood, one brother Norman H.Todd, Sr. of Middletown; four sister-in-laws, Betty B. Todd of Middletown, Virginia G. Harris of Milford, DE, Lula J. Todd of Glasglow, DE and Helen R. Todd of Smyrna, DE; two lifelong friends Emma Stokes Marvel and Violita Waters Stevenson of Middletown; a longtime, truly, devoted, caring neighbor and friend Alejo Gomez "Hot Shot" directly across the street. A great number of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends. Read Mary Grinnage's Obituary and Guestbook on houseofwrightmortuary.com.