Florerence Victorianne

Welcome, to the Celebration of Life, of Florence Ezra Grimes-Victorianne. A life well lived, that spanned decades and encapsulating many historical and memorable moments with family and friends from around the world. “Queen Mother, Florence” was born on January 12, 1926, in Madison, WI to Ardelia Carrie Venegar-Grimes and Henry Joseph Grimes, the same year that Carter G. Woodson launched Negro History Week and the country was Reveling in the Roaring Twenties! Her family grew a year after she was born, with another girl, Ardelia ‘BaBa’ Carthea Grimes. The family was filled with love and joy. They moved to Chicago’s Southside, like many other Negroes during what was known as The Great Migration. Florence attend Edmund Burke Elementary School on South King Drive, and Jean Baptiste Point DuSable High School, in the Bronzeville Neighborhood. At DuSable, she was active member of the Girls Athletic Association, Senior Girls Club, and the Negro History Club. She played the violin in the renowned Music Department with fellow band members Gene Ammons and Sonny Cohn, who went on to become pioneering jazz players. Florence graduated in 1943 and then matriculated at Roosevelt Business College. Friendships have always been vital to Florence. One of her favorite memories was from the Blue Note Club on North Clark Street, with her girlfriends Musetta Hilliard and Irene Harris. They enjoyed a night out with their classmates, Soul Crooner Joe Williams and bandleader Count Basie! Another fond memory was at Charlie Glen’s New Rhumboogie Café on East Garfield Blvd., where she met her future husband, Petty Officer 2nd Class Bernard Joseph Victorianne of New Orleans, Louisiana. He served as a Coxswain whose primary duty was to ensure the safety of those in the sub-boats and naval vessels in the Pacific Ocean. They dated while he served during World War II. After the war, Bernard was given the blessing of Florence’s parents and she and Bernard were married in St. Augustine Catholic Church in New Orleans, LA on August 25, 1944. After a couple years in N’awlins, they returned to Chicago to start their lives together began their family, raising three sons, Bernard Joseph Jr., Michael Austin and Gregory Darnell. Bernard was a Metal Finisher at Gary Works, U.S. Steel Corporation in Gary, IN and Florence a Film Technician in the Processing Department at Eastman Kodak. The couple enjoyed functions like the annual Provident Hospital Tea at the Regal Theater where advancements in in the arts and sciences were celebrated. Provident was the first African-American owned and operated hospital in the U.S., established in Chicago in 1891, by Dr. Daniel Hale Williams. Gregory Darnell was born at Provident. Bernard took early retirement and the family relocated to Los Angeles for warmer weather and to be closer to Florence’s sister, Ardelia. Their son Bernard Jr. “Vic,” had enlisted into the U.S. Marines Corp, following his father’s footsteps serving in Da Nang, Viet Nam and received an Honorable Discharge. In addition to her central role as Family Matriarch, Queen Mother, Florence worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District as a Clerical Office Manager in elementary schools. During this time, she began to explore the world and cultivated interests in traveling. Her early trips were to Hawaii and Mexico in the 60/70s and she would always reconnect with friends in Chicago and New Orleans. During the early 80s she started exploring Europe. Her first journey would take her to Amsterdam where she smelled the beautiful colorful bulb fields, and taking an overnight train from Paris the though the snowy Swiss Alps to arrive in Rome, to listen to Pope John Paul deliver Sunday Mass at the Vatican. Florence’s first love, Bernard, transitioned to the stars in 1986. Their boys had grown into men and were living their own lives. She decided to retire early from the LAUSD and celebrate her 62nd birthday. Retirement provided the opportunity to visit her mother ‘Mama Dee’ who had moved back to her birthplace Eudora, AK regularly and they along with her sister Ardelia, and they would travel though out the Caribbean. Florence joined her longtime friend and travel companion Ann Mosley on the Black Prince Cruise Line to ports in Greece, Turkey, Yugoslavia and her favorite Sanremo, Italy with its flower market and millions of roses, carnations, and mimosa’s. She visited The Great Pyramids of Egypt, Christ the Redeemer Statue in Brazil, Hong Kong and the beautiful and breathtaking Fiji and Philippines Islands. Florence met Mr. Jerome “Jerry” Delmar Spurlin Sr., a Tuskegee Airman and U.S. Army. Jerry was one the first graduates of the ‘Black Twin Engine Class’ in Tuskegee, and member of the famous Tuskegee Airmen. Jerry was acknowledged for these accomplishments by President Barack H. Obama in 2009. Jerry and Florence loved to take road trips throughout the Western United States and enjoyed each other’s company with the time they were blessed to have with each other before Jerry was called to the stars. Queen Mother, Florence, was called to the stars during what is now called Black History Month on February 22, 2021 after what can be described as a long lived classy, glorious and dignified journey. She leaves us with six passports filled with stamps and with one page left, reserved for Heaven. She will reunite with her husband Bernard Joseph Sr., son Michael Austin Sr., grandson Bernard Joseph III and many friends who preceded her arrival. Family has always been important to Queen Mother, Florence. She knows that her family will remain strong and support one another unconditionally. She will be looking down and smiling at her sons Bernard Joseph Jr. and Gregory Darnell. She knows that her grandsons Javier William, Marc Bernard and Michael Austin Jr. will continue their legacies. She has great love for her daughter in laws Marva L. Victorianne [Michael] and Zelda Jackson [Bernard]. Florence sends love from the stars to her sister Ardelia ‘BaBa’ Caretha Grimes-Wicks, their love for each other will hold them close until they are together again! To her cousin Olivia Juliet Hall of St. Louis, Missouri. The Grimes and Graves’s families, continue the family tradition until we cross paths again. To Tonee Anne, Susan ‘SuSu’ and Jerome ‘Romi’ Spurlin, I am sure I’ll see your father Jerome ‘Jerry’ and I know he is proud of you all.” Families are not always biological and Queen Mother, Florence has many new found daughters and sons she embraced and loved tremendously. “Jacqueline Mosley, pack light and return with memories of a life time as the world is at your peril. I will be with you in spirit!”. To Christopher, Joseph, Sanford and longtime family friend Andrew ‘Andy’ Seraile from N’walins for always sending flowers year round to bring joy to my life. There are many who made her journey rich and enjoyable. The medical team who kept her strong for 95 years including, Drs. Charles Hunter and George Ngan and Cynthia Clegg, FNP - Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center. Drs. Anita Kriplani and Jorge Minor - Good Samaritan Hospital, Dr. Kamran Toluie -Cedars Sinai and Dr. Sam Markzar for keeping her smile sparking like pearls! The Queen would be remiss if she didn’t mention another global traveler, Ms. Michele Byer and caregiver Laura L. Leftridge, whose kindness and generosity during the very short time they shared was so appreciated as well as that of Shelia Jones, RN. Lifelong friends Musette Hilliard, Gloria Merrill, Ann Mosley, Rose Santacruz for the many wonderful times. To all her friends and Chosen Family members around the globe, who shared in her journey, may your faith continue to bless you with beautiful memories of your time together. “Paging Queen Mother Florence Ezra Grimes – Victorianne, your flight on Heavenly Airlines is ready for you. No passport required…you have earned your wings!” Pallbearers [Family] Bernard Joseph Victorianne Jr. Gregory Darnell Victorianne Javier William Victorianne Marc Bernard Victorianne Michael Austin Victorianne Jr. Honorary Pallbearers [Ladies] Rosetta Fairchild [California] Olivia Juliet Hall [Missouri] Musetta Hilliard [Michigan] Gloria Merrill [Illinois] Ann Mosley [Illinois] Rose Santacruz [Louisiana] Honorary Pallbearers [America] James Adams [Illinois] Joseph A. Benson [California] Iley E. Brown II [Florida] Andre Caple [Washington, D.C.] Sanford Emanuel Gaylord [Illinois] Garry Gregory [California] Christopher Michael Hucks-Ortiz [California] Andrew ‘Andy’ Seraile [California] Robert ‘Bobby’ Levi Smith [Illinois] Jerome ‘Romi’ Spurlin Jr. [California] Honorary Pallbearers [Global] Raymond Anthony Brown [England] Charles Zvichauya Chasakara [Zimbabwe] Ndori Ndorema Emmanuel [Uganda] Issa Conteh [Sierra Leone] Mulumeoderhwa Kabagaya Thierry [Reunion] Ntando Derrick Mlamli Yola [South Africa] Thabiso Reuben Pontsho Mokgosi [South Africa]