Memorial Trees
K
Kristen Osborne Lucas
April 09, 2025
Memorial trees planted for:
Jean Shoemaker Grogan
<p>Jean Shoemaker Grogan, 98, a beacon of service in her community and beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on March 17th, 2025. Born May 8, 1926 in a small white house on Corona Street in Winston-Salem, she became an administrator, world traveler, valued volunteer, researcher, wife, dedicated mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Jean’s parents were Antionette Shelton Shoemaker and Franklin Fife Shoemaker of Winston-Salem, NC. She graduated from Reynolds High School in 1942, where she organized class reunions for many years, up through the 70th class reunion. Jean attended Women’s College, University of North Carolina (now UNC-G). During World War II, Jean volunteered as a nurse’s aide. Following the war, in 1949 she married John Gray Grogan, a WWII POW veteran, whom she met at 5 years old in Sunday School. In 1970, Jean participated in a first-of-its-kind program for working mothers designed to allow women to work during school hours so they could be home for their children after school. She was proud of her accomplishments as an administrator for Wachovia (now Wells Fargo), Integon, and RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, retiring in 1987. Jean is the last known surviving participant in the famous walk on June 2, 1935, from Brown Memorial to First Baptist Church to unite the communities and symbolize the historic merger. Jean was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Winston-Salem, where she served in countless committees and did volunteer work.</p><p><br></p><p>Jean volunteered at many Winston-Salem charities including Meals on Wheels, and most notably at Crisis Control Ministry. This organization serves those in crisis and provides tools for self-sufficiency. For her 30 years of dedicated service, Jean was recognized by Crisis Control with a Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor given to volunteers. Following retirement, Jean was a frequent traveler with First Baptist senior groups, visiting destinations at home and abroad. In her later years, she undertook an extensive Grogan/Shoemaker family ancestry research that chronicled family history tracing back from 1671 with German ancestor Johann Balthasar Loesch.</p><p><br></p><p>Jean is preceded in death by her parents, husband John Gray Grogan who died in 2003, and sister Sylvia Shoemaker Thomas. She is survived by her sons, Hughes Wilson Grogan (Saundra), Steven Gray Grogan (Sally), grandchildren Amber Jean Hacker (Jason), Annalyce Grogan Massaro (Tyler), Benjamin Gray Grogan (Sydney), and John Carter Grogan, and great-grandchildren Erik Daniel Hacker, Jean Elizabeth Hacker, Mullaney Rose Massaro, and her sister’s sons Wayne Corbin Thomas (Paula) and Glenn Baldwin Thomas, as well as many wonderful nieces and nephews.</p><p><br></p><p>A service will be held April 12 at 11:00 AM with a reception immediately following in the Ammons-Lolley Commons at First Baptist Church, 501 W. 5th St. Winston-Salem, NC, with Pastor Emily Hull McGee officiating. </p><p><br></p><p>In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Jean to Crisis Control Ministry, 200 10th St E, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, or online <a href="//www.crisiscontrol.org/ways-to-give/honormemorial-page.html">here</a>, or to First Baptist Church, 501 W. 5th St. Winston-Salem, NC 27101, or online <a href="//firstonfifth.org/give/">here</a>.</p><p><br></p>May 8, 1926 - March 17, 202505/08/192603/17/2025
Share Obituary: