Laura Warren Grimes, 58, Franklin, TN departed this life on June 15, 2018. With the help of her husband James, wonderful doctors, and friends, Laura put up a valiant 14 month fight against renal cell carcinoma.
Born on March 14, 1960 in Nashville, Laura lived all of her life in Middle Tennessee. She grew up in West Meade and attended Brookemeade Elementary followed by John Early and Warton Middle Schools. She attended Hillwood High School and Franklin High School graduating in 1978.
Immediately after high school, Laura started working for Margaret and Easy Henley at Green Pastures Farm in Brentwood. She lived on the farm full time and loved working with their race horses. She not only cleaned stalls, trained young horses, and exercised the race horses, but she also raced as an amateur jockey. She and her husband James lived at Green Pastures until Mrs. Henley’s death in 1992. She and James then moved out to Franklin where Laura started a tack repair business, taught lessons, and trained horses. She was an avid carriage driver, competing in pleasure shows as well as combined driving events with welsh ponies and POAs. She was an active member of the TNPOA Club, and was recently recognized for being a member of the American Driving Society for 20 years.
Later in life Laura started driving a school bus for Williamson County School District. She loved the children on her routes and made many lifetime friends with other drivers as well as parents.
Laura and James were active members of Jones Chapel Church of the Nazarene for over 25 years. Laura and James considered Pastor Gary Fewell a close family friend.
Laura leaves behind her husband of over 30 years, James; step-daughter Brandy Jenette;step-grandson Sean Michael Darrow; sisters-in-laws Sandy Hamrick, Lisa Acuff (Neal), Donna Nichols (Jeremy) and her mother-in-law Margie Grimes. She was preceded in death by her parents Leonard Francis “Jack” Warren and Charlene Naomi Gibson Warren and her grandparents Allie Townsend Warren and Byrd and Edith Gibson.
A special thanks to close friends that were caregivers until the end: Peppy Butler, Vicki McNamara, Darlene Edwards and Grace Hendricks.
Laura will be cremated and ashes scattered on her farm. A celebration of Laura’s life will be held at Jones Chapel Church of the Nazarene on Saturday June 30th. Visitation with the family 1:00, Service 2:00.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Jones Chapel.
Jones Chapel Church of the Nazarene
3864 Johnson Hollow Road
Thompson’s Station, TN 37179
