Elizabeth Anne Pierce

• General Notes
  • GRAYSON, ELIZABETH ANN PIERCE (LIZ) was born Feb. 16, 1924, to Hallie Crutchfield and George Foster Pierce, a civic leader and president of Cullum & Boren Company. Her maternal great-grandfather and great-grandmother, Charles and Frances Crutchfield, were early pioneers of Dallas County, arriving in 1846. They built and operated Dallas' first hotel, the Crutchfield House, located in what is now Dealey Plaza. Frances was the first Postmistress of Dallas County. Liz's paternal grandmother, Llora Cullum Pierce, arrived in Dallas with her father, Rev. Marcus Hiram Cullum, in 1872. Rev. Cullum was the founding pastor of Oak Lawn Methodist Church in 1874. Liz's uncle, A. Frank Smith, later Bishop of the South Texas Conference of the Methodist Church, was the first pastor of Highland Park Methodist Church. Liz graduated from Highland Park High School in 1941, and from SMU in 1945, where she was a Rotunda Beauty, a Class Favorite, and president of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. While there, she also received the "M" Award, was a member of Mortar Board and named to Who's Who Among American College Students. A natural-born leader, Liz was co-founder of C.O.G.S., a popular wartime service organization. The ringleader of her many friends, Liz founded the still active Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Sewing Club and Pi Phi Bridge Club in 1947. She also organized a Supper Club and the Sans Sous Club, both are still meeting 53 years later. Liz developed life-long friendships everywhere she went, with people from all walks of life. She never met a stranger, brought out the best in everyone, and always had a smile on her face. Ahead of her time, Liz was a true entrepreneur. When her first daughter was born, Liz found many beautiful dolls on the market, but no doll clothes. She then founded Sally Ann Fashions, designing doll clothes for Madame Alexander dolls and selling them to Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue in New York and I.Magnin in Chicago. Later, she opened Elizabeth Grayson Antiques on Fairmount St. She loved antiques and rummaging through the countryside to find beautiful pieces at great prices. An active volunteer and civic leader, Liz was an officer in the Community Chest (precursor of United Way), and volunteered for the Red Cross and The Junior League of Dallas. Her memberships included: Highland Park United Methodist Church (prayer tower & library), Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Association, Dallas Women's Club, Dallas Garden Club and Dallas Country Club. Liz is survived by her beloved husband Allan Monroe Grayson, Jr., and loving children: son Allan Grayson III and wife Valerie; daughters Sally Cullum and husband Mark, Lissie Donosky and husband Steve; brother Allen Pierce and wife Nancy; grandchildren Christian Cullum, Carolina Cullum, Ali Grayson, Susannah Cullum and Drew Donosky; many cousins, nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents and her brother, George F. Pierce, Jr. of Houston.
    CATEGORY:Pierce

Details of Elizabeth Anne's family with Alan Monroe Grayson