Carolene Mills Grant

Mrs. Carolene Mills Grant, a beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend, peacefully passed away on Friday, January 17, 2025, at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center. She was born on February 16, 1927, in York County South Carolina, to the late John B. Mills and Eliza Henderson Mills.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Collins E. Grant, Sr.; her siblings, Grace Mills Shrosphire, Johnnie Mae Mills Colvin, Theodosia Mills Sadler, Martha J. Mills, James E. Mills, Thomas N. Mills, Wilma Mills Foster, and Macon I. Mills.

Carolene grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where she was a member of Mount Prospect Baptist Church. She graduated from Emmett Scott High School in Rock Hill, SC. After high school, she attended Barber-Scotia College in Concord, North Carolina, before transferring to Morgan State College in Baltimore, Maryland.

Carolene made history as the first African American employed at Efird's Department Store in Rock Hill, SC, and later became the first African American to work at the Washington Post. Before retiring she dedicated many years teaching in Baltimore Public Schools.

She met Collins E. Grant, Sr. in Baltimore, they married and from that union, two sons were born; Colling E. Grant, Jr. and James M. Grant, Sr.

Carolene was a member of White Stone Baptist Church in Baltimore, MD, where she served on various committees and auxiliaries.

Carolene leaves to cherish her memory two sons: Collins E. Grant, Jr. (Sonya) of Chesapeake, Virginia, and James M. Grant, Sr. of Columbia, SC. She also leaves behind two grandchildren, Carolina Patricia Grant of Norfolk, Virginia, and James Macon Grant, Jr. of Greenville, South Carolina, along with other relatives and friends.