Juanita Grissett

Mrs. Juanita Gaines Grissett, age 93, of Rome, Georgia, passed away on Friday, January 2, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on December 9, 1932, she was the daughter of the late William Dewey Caylor and Minnie Sue Gordon Caylor Talley. In addition to her parents, Juanita is also preceded in death by her first husband, Clayton Jackson Gaines, to whom she was married for thirty years; her most recent husband, William Robert Grissett, to whom she was married for thirty-eight years; her stepfather George Lester Talley; a brother and his wife, Von and Catherine Caylor; and a sister and her husband, Faye and Carl Sharp.

Juanita, better known to her grandchildren as Nini, attended Model School and then completed her nursing certification at Coosa Valley Technical College. She then worked at Floyd Hospital where she met Dr. Harry Dawson, Sr. She then went on to work for him in the Shannon Community for forty years then worked for Dr. Steven Bischoff until the time of her retirement. She loved taking care of others. She also enjoyed lifeguarding in her earlier years and spending time with those in the community at the pool and snack stand that she and Jack owned that was better known as Jack’s Place.

Juanita’s greatest joy came from serving her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through her music ministry as the choir director at Rush Chapel United Methodist Church for 70 years, and, of course, spreading her love of the Lord with her family and spending time with them. Those she leaves behind to cherish her memory and all the wonderful times: her daughter, Regina Laney and son-in-law, Thomas; sister, Pat Roper and her husband, Melvin; grandchildren Darcy (Chad) Liddle, Seth (Jennifer) Laney, and Jessica (Kyle) Carney; and great-grandchildren Alex (Holly) Liddle, Landon Liddle, Alyssa Laney, Laney Carney, Davis Carney, Briggs Laney, Dempsey Carney, and Jasper Laney. She is also survived by numerous beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members.

Services will be held on Saturday, January 10. 2026, at Rush Chapel Methodist Church. The family will receive friends from 12 until 1:45 with the funeral service taking place at 2:00 and interment at the family cemetery following the service.

Serving as pallbearers will be Cabe Carney, Lee Jones, John Liddle, Thad Rush, Matthew Smith, Dennis Trosclair, Larry Robbins, and Albert Watters.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Rush Chapel Church Building Fund 1315 Rush Chapel Road Rome, Georgia 30161.

The Smith & Miller Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mrs. Juanita Gaines Grissett.