Persis Grayson

A Tennessee Treasure and holder of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Handweavers Guild of America, Mrs. Persis Grayson passed away on December
5, 2006, at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center. Born in 1916 in Easton, Massachusetts, Mrs. Grayson had made her home in Kingsport since her marriage to
Edwin Grayson in 1942.

With the country about to enter the Second World War, Mrs. Grayson signed up as a Nurse's Aide. She worked in the offices of Dr. Myron John Adams for some years
where many locals remember her as the smiling lady who helped with the unpleasantness of children's shots.

As a graduate of the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts, Mrs. Grayson was always interested in colors, design, and fibers. Over the years with the help of her beloved husband, Edwin, she learned to spin, dye and weave. She tirelessly shared her skills at many workshops all over the world, as well as schools such as Arrowmont, Penland, and John C. Campbell. There were columns in Handwoven, Spin-Off, Shuttle Spindle and Dyepot written by Persis on a regular basis. Along with several other locals, Persis founded the Overmountain Weavers Guild. She was twice president of the prestigious Southern Highland Guild. In 1998, Mrs. Grayson was given the Lifetime Award by the Handweavers Guild of America for all her many contributions to the craft world. Some of her weavings hang in local churches, and there is a permanent exhibition of her work in the Carroll Reese Museum and Tennessee Arts Commission.

She was a member of the Christian Science Society of Kingsport, Southern Highland Handicraft Guild, American Crafts Council, World Crafts Council, Handweavers Guild of America, Tennessee Artist-Craftsman's Association, Clinch Valley Handicraft Center, and Overmountain Weavers among others.

She is survived by her brother, Kenneth C. Dwinell; her sister, Nancie Godwin, two dear and close cousins; and many nieces, nephews and godchildren.

There will be a gathering to honor Persis on Saturday, June 16th, 2007, at 2 p.m. at Exchange Place in Kingsport. All Persis' friends are warmly invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions may be made in her name to the three schools in which she was deeply interested: John C. Campbell Folk School, One Folk School Road, Brasstown, NC 28902; Penland School of Crafts, Post Office Box 37, Penland NC 28765-0037; and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, P.O. Box 567, Gatlinburg, TN 37738; or to Adventa Hospice, 2612 North John B. Dennis Highway, Suite 3, Kingsport, TN 37660; or to the rehab center where she spent the last months of her life, Church Hill Health Care and Rehab Center, 701 West Main Blvd., Church Hill, TN 37642.