"Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10

Willie Mae Grace, a loving wife, devoted mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, relative, and friend, passed peacefully on Saturday, February 5, 2022. Willie Mae was an only child born to Virgil and Coley Byrd on December 1, 1925, in Winston Salem, NC.

An avid reader, Willie Mae graduated from Atkins High School in 1943. She worked in the home until joining the Wake Forest housekeeping staff in 1961 and retiring in 1987. While at Wake Forest she was respected and loved by her student-athletes, faculty, and staff. Many students fondly remember coming home with "Ma Grace" and enjoying a home-cooked meal with her family. In every aspect of her life and in all her interactions Willie Mae personified the Proverbs 31 virtuous woman. Her sage advice and wisdom will be missed.

Willie Mae was preceded in death by her husband of 75 years, James Ross Grace, Sr.; daughter, Cynthia Watson; granddaughter, Rhea Grace Singleton; son-in-law, Tommy Lee Watson; and daughter-in-love, Phyllis Smith.

She is survived by her children, James (Michelle), Ronald (Pamela), Jacqueline Burns, Marilyn Moore, Michael (Simone), Anthony (Deborah), Curtis (Valerie), Gary, Barrington, Traci Robinson (Lee), Tonya Barnes (Gary), and a devoted family friend, Johnny Burris; grandchildren, Twanna, Shannon, Curtis Jr., Shaun, Jacques, Brooke, Jay, Brian, Christopher, Julian, Alex, Brock, Jillian, Toni, Brandon, Michael, Taylor, Jamea, BJ, Evan, and Leah; Willie Mae also leaves behind twenty-two (22) great-grandchildren and ten (10) great-great grandchildren.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 ^nd Timothy 4:7-8

A viewing will be held from 2:00pm until 5:00pm Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at Russell Funeral Home.

Private funeral services will be held Thursday, February 17, 2022. Entombment will follow in Gardens of Memory, Walkertown, NC.