Janice Grimes

Janice (Willis) Grimes grew up in Nahunta, Georgia, the daughter of Sallie and Bill Willis. After several years of navigating the challenges of dementia she passed away peacefully on the morning of November 6th, 2026. From an early age, Janice had an adventurous spirit, an independent mind, and an enthusiasm for living that never faded. She was intelligent, quick-witted, determined, outspoken, and wonderfully fun to be around.

Janice was a physician assistant who spent many years working in oncology and clinical research at Mount Sinai in Miami. She was clever and compassionate. She was an avid reader, a lifelong learner, and someone with an opinion worth hearing.

Over the years, Janice made homes in Spain, Paraguay, San Diego, Miami, and even aboard a sailboat in the Caribbean. She spoke Spanish, traveled the world, and embraced the people, cultures, and experiences she encountered along the way.

After many years in Miami, Janice retired to St. Simons Island, Georgia with her dear husband Joe where she was an enthusiastic birdwatcher, loved riding her bicycle, and treasured trips to Little St. Simons. From her oldest friends into retirement, she found a wonderful community of people who added richness to her life. She loved evenings spent on the porch with red wine or Aperol spritzes, laughing, and enjoying company and deep conversation.

She had a way of making ordinary moments feel special. Dinner at her house meant candles on the table, great food, and fancy dessert, often followed by political debate. She enjoyed the simple pleasures in life, whether it was steaming up café con leches in the mornings with her nieces or enjoying full afternoon tea together. She had a gift for making people feel special. On Sunday mornings, she could always be found settled into her favorite chair working through the New York Times crossword with incredible speed.

She had impeccable style, a beautiful laugh, and a soft spot for animals, with a special love for the many cats she rescued over the years. She was vibrant and unapologetically herself. A feminist in both belief and practice, Janice encouraged the women in her life to be independent, curious, and unafraid. She was alive in every sense of the word.

Family was deeply important to Janice, and she had a large one. She treasured time spent together, sharing stories, laughing, and reminiscing about the many crazy antics of the Willis family. She held a particularly special place in the lives of her nieces, Sarah and Edie, and was far more than an aunt to them. She shared her spirit of adventure with them, taking them on their first international trips and inspiring in them a love of travel and curiosity about the world. She encouraged them to be strong, independent and to make a life that was entirely their own. The love she gave and the influence she had on the lives of the people who loved her will remain with them always.

Janice was preceded in death by her parents, Sallie and Bill Willis; her brothers, Gerald, Ronald, Sidney, Ralph, and Gary Willis; and her husband, Joseph “Joe” Grimes. She is survived by her beloved nieces, Sarah Jacques (Ancil Jacques) and Edie Willis, along with numerous dearly loved cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

In Lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Association of Frontotemporal Degeneration (aftd.org) to help other families impacted by this heartbreaking disease.

Arrangements are with Frye Funeral Home, Nahunta.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online registry at www.fryefh.com.