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No wonder: Even in retirement he continues to serve numerous worthwhile causes that touch many lives around the town. For his recent efforts he was named "Citizen of the Year" by the Smithfield-Selma Chamber of Commerce at its annual banquet Monday evening. Warren was born in Norfolk, Va. and grew up "a Navy brat" as his father moved the family from one duty station to the next. He moved to Smithfield, hometown of his parents, as a seventh grader and graduated in 1966 from Smithfield High School and from High Point College (now University) in 1970. He returned to Smithfield to establish Trash Collection Service, a business he sold in 1992. At that point he joined Neal Davis in a new venture, Broadcast Services and Reedy Creek, Inc. in the early years of Internet development. (Neal is currently director of Community and Senior Services of Johnston County). Warren followed that venture with a stint as the County of Johnston's solid-waste director (1994-99) and finished his professional career as executive director of the Smithfield Housing Authority from 2001 until his retirement in 2013. Warren's current civic activities include service as chairman of the Johnston County Home Health and Hospice Advisory Board, chairman of the Johnston County Heritage Commission, treasurer of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, and member of the Ava Gardner Museum's board and the newly formed Smithfield Town Plan Committee. At Centenary United Methodist Church, he serves on the Finance Committee, as church historian, and a member of the team that televises weekly church services. He previously served as a Sunday School teacher and youth counselor as well as a church trustee. Warren is a presently a volunteer with the Smithfield Area Ministries Food Closet and an AARP volunteer income-tax preparer. As a volunteer, he also maintains the online Facebook page for the Smithfield High School Alumni Association. He is a charter member and past president of the Rotary Club of Central Johnston and has maintained perfect attendance with that club since its founding 31 years ago. He was a member of the Smithfield Rotary Club from 1978 to 1988. He was a member and past president of the Smithfield Jaycees. He served as a director of Four Oaks Bank from 1992 until 2017. What drives Warren Grimes to be of so much service? "Both sides of my family have a multi-generational history of serving the Smithfield community in numerous ways," he said, and that sparked a desire to serve as they had served. "I was fortunate to grow up in a small town during my formative years," he continued. "The Smithfield community provided me an abundance of mentors who were all about serving." That included school teachers, local merchants, civic-club leaders, Scout leaders, church ministers and youth directors, all who "taught us that faith, morality, ethics, and service to others gave meaning and purpose to our leaves," he concluded. Warren and his wife, Genie, have three grown children: David Grimes of Smithfield, Catherine Huffman of Castle Hayne, and Leslie Parr of Smithfield. Those marriages have produced five granddaughters and two grandsons. |
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