Obituary of Nina Mae LaGrand

Nina (Lee) LaGrand, of Battle Creek, MI passed away on December 13, 2018, peacefully at home surrounded by her family.  Mrs. LaGrand was born April 30, 1933 in Marion Al, daughter of the late Willie and Alberta (Lester) Lee. She accepted Christ at the age of nine. She attended school in Birmingham, AL and graduated from Parker High School in 1951, and received her bachelor’s degree from Miles College in 1955. 

She was united in marriage to John Thomas LaGrand Sr and relocated to Battle Creek, MI in 1955. She was an educator in the Battle Creek Public Schools for 35 years. Her civic involvement included Co-founder of Bridges to Cultural Understanding; George Award recipient; member of the Neighborhood Planning Council; and NAACP.

She was a loving sister, wife, mother, grandmother and auntie loved by all.  She is survived by her; four sons, John Jr (Robin) of Phoenix, AZ; Wendell (Sandra) of Matteson, IL; Brian (Dawn) of Battle Creek, MI; Todd of Arlington, Texas. daughters, Jessica (Reginald) Williams of Battle Creek, MI, Alison (Brad) Foster, Fort Wayne, IN; Jennifer (Kevin) Williams of Fort Worth, TX; two sisters Fannie Bostic, and Carolyn (Howard) Brown both of Birmingham, AL; two brothers Edward (Dorothy) Lee, of Jurupa Valley, CA and Walter (Sheila) Lee of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  Twelve grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband John of 40 years, son Timothy, grandson Darrien LaGrand, brothers James and Robert Lee and sister Louise Lee.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 21 at Second Missionary Baptist Church, Reverend William J. Wyne, Second Missionary Baptist Church, officiating. Mrs. LaGrand will be laid to rest at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, MI.  Visitation will be Thursday, December 20, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Family hour will be at the church from 10:00a.m. until time of service. Memorial donations may go to the Nina M. LaGrand Memorial Fund, c/o the Battle Creek Community Foundation or directly at https://www.bccfoundation.org/giving/nina-lagrand-fund