It was a Tuesday in December just two days after Christmas at approximately 5am that Marie Marion Grate became absent from her body to be present with the Lord. Marie was born on June 28, 1925 in Ladson, SC to the Late Lonnie and Catharine Scurry. After completing the 11 th grade in the Lincolnville School System, Marie graduated and relocated to Philadelphia, PA to continue her education. In 1952, at the age of 27 she accomplished her goal of obtaining her Practical Nursing License and moved back to her hometown. Later on that year in Charleston, she met and married the love of her life Richard Carl Grate Jr of Pawleys Island, SC. During this time, Marie accepted positions at two Historically Black Hospitals; McClennan Banks Memorial Hospital and Cannon Street Hospital. She again relocated to Philadelphia where she assumed a role as a nurse at the University of Pennsylvania. She also completed a course in cosmotolegy at a local beauty school. Marie was a sweet woman, honest and strong minded she valued her morals and principles. She had a sense of humor and loved to laugh, she was also very serious and didn't like a lot of play and foolishness but if you needed her, she was there. Marie enjoyed her bus rides down to the Italian Market for her grocery shopping. Loved to dress well and adored a nice church hat. She was a committed usher and member of the choir at Triumph Baptist Church. Marie enjoyed reading her bible and spreading her knowledge of the word when she could. She would often play piano in her free time and did not play about her beloved cat, Tiger. Overall, spending time with her friends and family was her favorite thing to do. She is Preceded in death by her Husband and is survived by her three sons James Cuttino, Richard Grate lll, and Marvin, numerous Grands, Great Grands, and Great Great Grands. Marie was loved by so many and will be greatly missed.