Remembering Mr. Pete Grissom

By Mia Freneaux;  Photo by Dave Freneaux
    When Mr. Pete Grissom passed away on July 31 at the age of 88, the City of Central lost one of its most active yet most humble servants.  Mr. Pete and his wife of 35 years, Miss Anna Marie, together handled the work of the Central Food Bank.  The Food Bank was begun in 1989.  After helping out from the onset, in 1993, Mr. Pete and Miss Anna Marie stepped up to take on the challenge of running it single handedly and never put it down again.  Every day for 26 years, they would drive to the donation sites and collect the food, take it to the food bank and catalogue and shelve it, then fill bags with the donations to leave at the fire department for folks in need.  
    Miss Anna Marie has years of spiral bound notebooks where she has carefully documented every family that has received help.  The number, of course, is in the hundreds. They did this despite Mr. Pete having to battle cancer and Miss Anna Marie having severe vision issues.  “When we started the Central Food Bank years back, we had the use of the Central Fire Department.  Before long, the popular program had grown too large for the department and we did not wait long for a volunteer.  Mr. Pete Grissom stepped up and agreed to shepherd and house the program and was instrumental in feeding countless people in need in our community.  This is only one of many memories of a great man whose good deeds knew no bounds and I'm honored to have been a part of his and Mrs. Anna Marie's lives," shared Doug Welborn, now Clerk of Court. 
            Mr. Pete was raised in an atmosphere of giving.  He remembered his father regularly collecting clothing and food donations to take to the orphanage in Jackson.  He always felt he was just doing what should be done, and never expected to receive any thanks for his efforts. Sherian Comeaux, with Blackwater United Methodist Church, worked for years with the Grissoms, and shared, “Mr. Pete was a man who had a heart for everyone and would do anything for anybody.”  When he and Miss Anna Marie were selected by 8 local organizations to receive the Lifetime Citizenship Award in 2011, they were both completely surprised.  It never occurred to them that anyone would ever recognize their efforts.  Fire  Chief Bill Porche stated, “The Grissoms have always been dedicated to anything needed in the community. Pete always had a smile on his face. It was amazing- toward the end he could barely get out of the car, yet he was still trying to unload the food. He was an astonishing person who was really dedicated to our community. There are not many like him still around."
    Miss Anna Marie is determined to continue serving the City of Central and keep the food bank running to honor her husband’s memory.  She has able help in the form of Michelle Lewis of Lewis Wrecker Service.  Michelle, who started “Central Feeding Central” in memory of her father Dennis, has dedicated the time it will take to help Miss Anna Marie collect and distribute donations.  She, along with Ti Barnes, Suzonne Cowart, and others, has set up a facebook page (“Central Foodbank”- go “like” it for updates on food bank needs and news), a post office box, and now is working on non-profit status for the organization.  “When Mr. Pete was in the hospital this last time, he asked me to keep the food bank running,” shared Michelle, “and that is exactly what I intend to do.”  She went on to further say, “This Food Bank wouldn’t exist if not for the Grissoms.  They poured their blood, sweat and tears into it.  Miss Anna Marie, directly after Mr. Pete’s funeral was over, went and packed 11 bags to take to the Fire Department. We’ve all just become so attached to her and fond of her.  It’s our job to take care of her.  We definitely lost a great man of Central, but Mr. Pete’s memory will go on in that Food Bank.”
    Donation barrels are placed in Winn Dixie, People’s Bank, Zoar Baptist Church, and Blackwater United Methodist Church. To make a financial donation to the food bank (used to buy needed items like baby food not usually donated), please make it out to “Central Food Bank” and send it to P.O. Box 78304, Greenwell Springs, LA 70739. Do it in memory of Mr. Pete and in honor of Miss Anna Marie, who represent all that is best about our city.