Lois Grills

Lois Elaine Holmes Noah-Grills, was born on October 22, 1952 at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late Marshall L. Holmes and Gertrude S. Holmes. She departed on Sunday, September 18, 2011 after a courageous fight against breast cancer She was the youngest of 4 siblings. Elaine, as she was known by her family and closest friends, married the late R. Mathews. To this union, DeSean Dorji Mathews was born. Elaine was a member of Saint Timothy Church on Carnegie. She attended Giddings Elementary School, Central Junior High and graduated from East Technical High School. She furthered her education by attending Jackson State University in Mississippi, where she earned her Bachelors Degree B.A in Education. As a child, Lois Elaine, was tall, lanky and a very curious soul. However, she grew into a beautiful woman which led her to model throughout college. She had a passionate love for animals, which continued into her adulthood. Elaine taught for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and retired with 34 years of service. Her first teaching position, was with first graders at Miles Standish Elementary School. Lois spent the last 19 years of her career teaching at Max S. Hayes High School. During this time, Elaine served as: Department Chairperson for special education, Drug Task Force Coordinator, Staff Led Team Chairperson, performed administrative duties while working as a Lead Teacher. She also headed up a pilot program for Interactive Video Distance Learning I.D.V.L.. It extended the studentÕs ability to gain knowledge beyond the traditional classroom. Elaine went to great lengths to make learning functional and exciting for her students. She would take any education course or workshop that provided her with new and innovative teaching methods. Her eagerness for education led her to achieve a Masters of Education Degree M.E.D, from Cambridge University. She continued her studies after graduation from Cambridge working on her PhD, up until the time of her illness. Elaine had many hobbies, but her passion was shopping. Whether it was for herself, DeSean or her dream home, you could always be sure to find her in a store. The weekends she would attend estate sales, auctions and traveling with DeSean to various casinos. Elaine and James Grills were companions for many years prior to getting married, April 20, 2001 in Niagara Falls, Canada. James respectively called upon her as his best friend and knew that the love they had for one another transpired because of their commonalties toward one another. "Adversity" was not a word that she would allow to keep her back, or that she took lightly. Any and all challenges that came to her, she triumphed. Never wanting anyone to help, she found a way to make an unfortunate situation turn to be a learning experience. ElaineÕs greatest accomplishment was her son, DeSean Dorji. The two of them shared more than a mother and son relationship. They were one anotherÕs rock. They traveled from New York to Las Vegas several times. They even continued to make plans for travel up until this current month. However, her declining health prevented her from such travel. Lois Elaine leaves to mourn her loving husband, James L. Grills, Sr.; her son, DeSean D. Mathews of Cleveland, Ohio; her step daughter Jaunete, Sophia and step son, James Grills, Jr. She was the dear grandmother of Kaylei; sister of Larry L. Holmes of Sandusky, Ohio, Jean Carol Fee Richard of Fairport, New York and Charles M. Holmes of Sandusky, Ohio. Elaine had devoted nieces, Wendy E. Fee, Tonya K. Fee Tolliver Rozel, Faye Fields and nephews, Charles TuckerAnna and Larry Holmes. She also had 4 great nieces4, great nephews6, and her beloved canine companion, Maddie, in additional to a host of other family and many dear friends. Lois Elaine will truly be missed upon all of us. However, God knew she fought the good fight of faith and she has now continued her path to sit with him and watch over all of us. The family prefers that those who wish may make contributions in her name to The Gathering Place, 23300 Commerce Park, Cleveland, Ohio 44122. A Service in Celebration of Lois' Life will be held at 11am on Saturday, September 24 in the Chapel of Hillcrest Cemetery, 26200 Aurora Road, Bedford Heights., Ohio. There will be a family gathering immediately following the service at the Beachwood Community Center, 25325 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood, Ohio.


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