Willie Faye Grandberry

Willie Faye (Ware) Grandberry was born on May 25, 1957, to the late Ora Lee and LC Ware in Meridian, Mississippi. She entered into eternal glory on March 23, 2025 at Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Hospital, New Brunswick, New Jersey. 

Affectionately known as Faye, she attended and graduated from New Brunswick High School.

Faye was a devoted member of True Born Saints and Christ Church under the leadership of Bishop Willie Seawright. From an early age, it was clear that Faye loved the Lord. She found great joy in singing gospel hymns and spiritual songs, and her favorite scripture was Psalm 91.

Faye had a generous heart and a deep love for her family. She delighted in cooking for them and embraced both family and friends with warmth and kindness. When you left her presence, you felt like family for sure. Her greatest joy in life was being a mother and grandmother. She especially loved listening to the music written and produced by her grandson, Marcel “Bubba”, and cherished playful moments wrestling with her grandchildren. Derrick, known as “Little D,” was her inseparable sidekick—wherever you saw Faye, you saw him. She spoke about her grandchildren with immense pride to anyone who would listen.

Faye dedicated many years to her career as a manager at the Marriott Hotel in Somerset, N.J. She was blessed to find her soulmate and life partner, Earl Grandberry, whom she later married. Together, they relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, where she worked in housekeeping at Methodist North Hospital for 15 years until her retirement in 2020.

Faye was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Earl Grandberry; her grandson, Marcel “Bubba” Adams (whom she raised as her own); her granddaughter, Felicity Ware; her brothers, Billy Hollingsworth and James Ware; her niece, Jacqueline Ware; and her nephew, Dwoyne Hollingsworth.

She leaves to mourn her son, daughter, grandson and granddaughters, respectively, Derrick Ware (Monroe, NJ), Yasmine Anderson (Memphis, TN),  Derrick Ware Murphy (Memphis, TN),  Nevaeh, India, Royalty (Memphis, TN) Siblings: beloved brother, Ibrahim (Alma) Muhammed (Huntsville, AL) sisters; Marjorie Ware (Eagleville, PA) twin sister, Lillie Mensah, Brenda (Wilfred) Robinson (Piscataway, NJ) Kecia McMillian (Edison, NJ)  and a host of nieces, nephews, family, friends, and best friend Ruby Comberband of 40 years. Extended heartfelt gratitude also to: Sharlet Bradley-Boston, Cortney Wallace, Devin and Tatiana Graffed.