Perrilee Dukes Grumish, 97, of Savannah died at the Oaks at The Marshes of Skidaway Island on December 19, 2018. She was born Perrilee Dukes in Wayne County, Georgia, and after spending time in Atlanta as a young girl, she called Savannah home for the remainder of her life. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Harry Grumish of Savannah, and by her beloved great-grandson, Carter Samuel Martin of Atlanta. She was also preceded in death by her sisters Ida Smith, Bue Dow, Ceal Taylor and Clara Douglas.

A wife. A mother. A grandmother. A great-grandmother and even a great-great grandmother, Perri was loved and adored by her family and friends. She never met a stranger. She was affectionately referred to as “Gram” by everyone who knew her.

Perri was the epitome of a true southern lady and her wisdom, grace, and kindness will be greatly missed. In a world that seemed to move too quickly, Perri always reminded us to slow down and appreciate the finer things in life. Quality time with her friends and family was what she considered to be time well spent.

Perri was a member of Skidaway Island Methodist Church. She was also a dedicated volunteer as a Pink Lady at Memorial Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Candler Hospital and at Hospice Savannah. Perri was a “Bear Buddy” at Hesse Elementary School and a member of Chapter S of P.E.O. Sisterhood. After moving to The Marshes, she volunteered as a member of the flower arranging guild.

In the final years of her life, Perri was cared for by the staff at the Oaks at The Marshes of Skidaway where she had a special bond with Marchel Fairchild, Director of Nursing. Also, her long-time and dear friend, Priscilla Collins, and her team of caregivers nurtured Perri which provided enormous peace for the family.

Perri’s favorite poem is one from which we could all learn valuable life lessons. She was able to recite this poem from memory at any given time:

They are not duplicates your life and mine

God didn’t use the same design for both

You have some joys I’ll never know

Some grief I’ll not have to undergo

Some hills of hope are not for me to climb

Your disappointment roads may not cross mine

But all in all that proves God’s plan and decree

Your life is best for you

And mine is best for me

Perri is survived by her son William Michael McDonald (Alice) of Harris Neck, McIntosh County, GA, and her daughter Mary McDonald Herrin (Bert) of Savannah; her four granddaughters Leigh Ann Herrin of Atlanta, Laura Weeks Herrin of Savannah, Melissa McDonald Necaise (Mark) of Zurich, Switzerland, and Brannen Lee McDonald (Brad Demuth) of New York, NY.

She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Candler Bertram Herrin (Hannah) of Fort Collins, CO, Thomas William McDonald Demuth and Alice Claire McDonald Demuth both of New York, NY, and a great-great granddaughter Hazel Rohan Herrin of Fort Collins, CO.

The funeral will be held on Friday, December 21, 2018, at 2:00pm at Fox & Weeks Funeral Home, Hodgson-Memorial Chapel. Perri’s family will receive visitors prior to the service beginning at 1:00pm.  Interment will follow in the Greenwich Section of Bonaventure Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to CURE Childhood Cancer/The Carter Martin Fund, 200 Ashford Center Parkway, Suite 250, Atlanta, Georgia 30338 or curechildhoodcancer.org