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Sister Grace Marie Dillard, RSM, has gone peacefully to the Lord on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. Sister is survived by her niece Candy Muncy (Ken Thomas), nephews, Ray Muncy (Wendy), children: Blake, Kelly, and Chaney; Brian "Bubba" Muncy (Theresa), children: Lee, Danielle, and Niki, great nephew Ian (Abigail), friends, and the entire Sisters of Mercy Community.

She was born in Henderson, Texas, in September 1932. Her family traveled extensively with her father’s company but finally found their home in Columbus, GA. Sister went through Catholic grade school and the Sisters of Mercy high school, Mt. de Sales High School in Macon, GA. Spirited by the love and devotion of the Sisters there, upon graduation, in 1951, Sister entered religious life as a Sister of Mercy, in Baltimore, MD.

Sister attended Mount St. Agnes College, earning a BA in Education, and MA in Religious education/Scripture, and she did post-graduate work at Fordham University.

After professing her final vows, Sister began a wide-ranging career. She became a teacher and principal in Rockville, MD; was the Director of Postulants at Mount St. Agnes Novitiate; went back to her beloved Mount de Sales as an English teacher; was again called to a Sisters of Mercy community leadership position:  and served as V.P. for Mission Effectiveness at St. Joseph’s Candler Hospital.  Once more the classroom called and she returned to Columbus and taught at Pacelli High School. She retired from teaching there but continued to enjoy her work as a volunteer in her parish in Columbus.

As a result of her impressive educational resume, she was awarded the National Forensic League Degree of Excellence; awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship at Louisiana State University; and received the GAIS Distinguished Service Award for 25 years in Independent Education.

Sister was known for being the community historian for the Columbus community. In her lifetime, she made many friends, and often former students would reach out to her in love and affection. One friend said, “She was such a special lady. She was highly thought of at Pacelli High School. Sister left such a marvelous impression on our Columbus community.”

Never one to decline an adventure, in 2015, at the invitation of Douglas Brooks, a former student at Mt. DeSales and advisor to President Obama, Grace Marie went to the White House to see the Pope, but not before an involved background check from the FBI! She was a part of a group who greeted Pope Francis on his first visit to the U.S. Niece Candy accompanied her, and they were able to be as close as ten feet from the Pope.

Her family and religious community were central to her life. Sister was “a rock” in her sister Patsy’s family. Her niece Candy describes her as a second mom for her nieces and nephews. Sister would take the children on vacations and welcomed them to the various communities she served. They fondly remember Sister instilling in them a strong sense of faith and love of the Lord.

Sister “adventured” far and wide once retired, visited Dublin, Ireland, and Baggot Street where Catherine McAuley founded the Sisters of Mercy and she went to Italy. Later in her life, she was fond of taking day trips out of Savannah with other Sisters of Mercy, often experiencing new things and new people. Sister’s charm and spiritual charism made her an integral part of the lives of the Sisters of Mercy wherever she lived. She devoted herself to the life of service and prayer as a Sister of Mercy. Sister loved celebrating events with her religious community, as well as daily mass with the Sisters at Mercy Convent.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 10:30 am at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church. Visitation will be from 9:30am to 10:30am at the church before the Mass. Burial will be in Catholic Cemetery.

Remembrances may be made to the Sisters of Mercy.