Donna Toliver Grimes, the immediate past head of African-American affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic bishops (USCCB), died Dec. 10 after suffering complications related to open-heart surgery. She was 68 years old.
The news was first announced by Pax Christi USA, with whom Grimes served in various national and regional roles.
“Donna’s life and witness spoke of the justice, peace, dignity, love and respect that she felt all people deserve as children of God,” said former Pax Christi USA executive director Johnny Zokovitch.
“Even as we grieve this loss, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all that Donna gave to us and showed us about what it means to be disciples of Jesus.”
With sadness, we share the news that Donna Toliver Grimes passed from this life on December 10, 2024.https://t.co/nR8HENVlCu
— The National Black Catholic Congress (@NBCCongress) December 13, 2024
Born in the 1950s, Grimes had Southern Maryland roots with Black Catholic connections dating back several generations. She attended Catholic schools in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington before attending the University of Virginia, where she graduated with a degree in education.
Grimes worked for more than twenty with the USCCB, beginning as a poverty education and outreach manager in the Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development (JPHD) in 2000, She became the assistant director for African-American affairs in the Secretariat for Cultural Diversity in the Church in 2012.
During her time at the conference, Grimes was active in promoting diversity and inclusion at various levels. She helped to form a caucus that advocated for minority perspectives to be heard in the JPHD, according to an interview with Peace x Peace.
Grimes was also involved with several social justice-oriented apostolates, including Pax Christi USA, a Catholic peace organization for which she served two terms on the national council. She was also a JustFaith facilitator in the Washington area, a board member for Sisters in the Spirit, and a member of the steering team for the ecumenical outreach Christian Churches Together.
A published author, Grimes released her first book, the Pax Christi USA Advent devotional “Tell Us About the Times When Jesus Came,” in 2005. “All God's People: Effective Catechesis in a Diverse Church” arrived in 2017. She previously contributed to “Hallelujah People: A Daily Reflection on the Gospels for African American Catholics,” a devotional text published by Eat the Scroll Ministry, a publication for which she served as a writer. Grimes also contributed to Black Catholic Messenger.
“Donna used her many God-given gifts to serve and respond to the presence and need to continue Catholic evangelizing and social justice ministries to and among African Americans,” said Sr Jamie Phelps in an online tribute.
“I am grateful for her faith-filled response to God's call to continue the Mission of Jesus Christ in the challenging racial struggles of our contemporary times.”
We are all deeply saddened by the loss of Donna Grimes. A virtual memory board has been set up. Please share this with the people that were close to Donna. https://t.co/iNGTEbFmqH pic.twitter.com/xLwMB8Q124
— The National Black Catholic Congress (@NBCCongress) December 13, 2024
Outside of Washington, Grimes served as an instructor in the continuing education program of the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana, the nation’s Black Catholic university. She retired from the USCCB in 2023, the same year she helped launch an outreach initiative for Catholic campus ministries at other HBCUs.
Grimes faced various health challenges in her final years, including the final heart ailment that necessitated surgery. She was predeceased by her husband, Herbert Grimes, who died in 2008. She is survived by her daughter, Nyle, and sons Kamau and Ayinde.
A wake service for Grimes has been scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 2, at her home parish, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, from 6 to 8pm ET. A viewing will take place at the parish on Friday, Jan. 3, at 10am, with a funeral Mass at 11am.
Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington will celebrate the liturgy, with a homily by the pastor, Msgr Ray East. Interment will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suitland, Maryland. A repast will be held at the Panorama Room of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Washington at 2pm.
The family has requested that attendees at the remembrance services wear White to honor Grimes. Flowers can be sent via the website of Fayson Firm Professional Morticians.
Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.
