Lydia "Diane" Smith Grant

Lydia “Diane” Smith Grant, a native of Bath, Maine, and long-time resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at the age of 97.

She was born in her grandparents’ home in Bath, Maine on April 25, 1927, and lived in Maine until she moved with her family to Pearl Harbor. She lived on the base and witnessed first-hand the bombing on December 7, 1941. After marrying, she moved to Baton Rouge and started her family. She was a founding member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge, and was honored to have her name in the cornerstone. She was also a proud member of St. Giles Episcopal Church in Jefferson, Maine. Lydia was a founding member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Salvation Army, a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, and the 95th Bomb Group Memorial Foundation. Over the years, she volunteered with Meals on Wheels, FISH, Hospice of Baton Rouge, and at Highland Elementary, tutoring students through the Reading Friends program. She was a recipient of the Silver Magnolia Award from the Women’s Council of Greater Baton Rouge. She cherished her time at her home in the woods in Maine.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Edward D. Grant, Jr., and daughter, Lydia Spann Neustrom. She is survived by her children, William “Bill” Stirling Spann, Jr. (Janie), Ronald “Ronnie” Baxter Spann (Sheryl), and Kate Grant Seba (David), all of Baton Rouge, as well as her stepchildren, Edward D. Grant, III of Idaho, James Grant (Margaret) of Florida, and Chris Grant (Cindy) of Missouri. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and brothers, Thomas Gillette (Delph) of Texas, Asa Smith (Jane) of Kentucky, and Alden Smith (Marlena) of California.

 Services will be held on Sunday, September 8, 2024. Visitation will be in the Common Room at Trinity Episcopal Church, 3552 Morning Glory Avenue, Baton Rouge, at 2pm until services in the sanctuary at 3pm. Please wear happy colors, as our mom would have loved that. All who loved her are invited to her home immediately following the service for a celebration of her life. She will be interred at a later date in Oak Grove Cemetery in Bath, Maine.

We are indebted to Tracey Shaw, her faithful friend and companion, for the love, care, and song she brought to our mother’s life. You made her so very happy. Further thanks to Dr. Jennifer Greeson, Audubon Hospice, and our incredible nurses, Carmen Darensbourg and Trygve Olson. There were many dedicated sitters who provided her with extraordinary care at the end of her life, who we now consider members of our family. We are truly indebted to you all.

Please do not send flowers as she asked those who wished to honor her to make donations to the Trinity Episcopal Church Endowment Fund in her name, or to St. Giles Episcopal Church, 72 Gardiner Road, Jefferson, Maine 04348.