Constance Bratton Grine, 61, died after a brief illness on Saturday, May 5, 2012, in Wilmington, N.C., with her family by her side. Connie was born in Raleigh on July 5, 1950, the third of seven children born to Michelle Telfair Bratton of Raleigh and the late John Bratton Jr.
Connie graduated from St. Mary’s School in Raleigh, attended Converse College in Spartanburg, S.C., for two years and graduated with a BA in education from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill in 1972. In 1979 Connie and her two sons moved to Wilson, where she began working for the family business, Wake Stone Corporation in Raleigh. In 1990 she married Dr. William Bark Grine (Pete) of Wilson, and 10 years later they moved to Wilmington.
Connie became a “student of the world,” traveling extensively with Pete and always sending postcards or bringing gifts to her family members. She loved art, architecture, history, antiques and meeting and interacting with people.
Her zest for life and array of passions led her to serve on many boards, often spearheading successful fundraisers fueled by her enthusiasm. Connie was president of the Arts Council of Wilson. She served on the N.C. state board of the Colonial Dames and on the board of the Dumbarton House, the headquarters of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America. She served on the Board for the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at UNC Memorial Hospital, and on the boards of the N.C. Ballet, the Cameron Art Museum and the Thalian Hall for Performing Arts Center in Wilmington. She worked over the years to raise funds for the RHA Howell Center in LaGrange. She was an active parishioner of St. James Episcopal Parish in Wilmington.
Connie is lovingly remembered by her friends and family as a generous and gracious person, who possessed great perseverance, a radiant smile and a positive attitude in the face of adversity as a breast cancer survivor.
She will be greatly missed by her family: Pete, her husband of 21 years; her two sons, Joseph Clayton Wine III and wife, Heather, and James Alexander Wine (Jamie); her mother Michelle Telfair Bratton; her sisters, Michelle Bratton Parker and husband Al; Lucy Bratton Doak and husband Trey; Jane Bratton Fleming and husband Pat; her brothers, John Randolph Bratton and wife Katherine; Theodore DuBose Bratton and wife Margaret; Samuel Telfair Bratton and wife Cooper; her many Bratton nephews and nieces; her husband’s children, Sarah Grine Frantz and husband Brett, Reynold Carter Grine, Elizabeth Grine Blount and husband Bill, and Alyson Adams Grine and partner Karen Stegman; her eight Grine grandchildren; and family member, Susan Grine.
A graveside service will be held at noon on Tuesday at Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh. A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday at St. James Episcopal Parish, 25 South 3rd Street, Wilmington, NC 28401.
Following the service, the family will greet friends at a reception.
In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to St. James Episcopal Church, 25 S. 3rd Street, Wilmington, NC; Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St., Wilmington, NC 28401; or RHA Howell Center, 3738 Howell Day Care Road, LaGrange, NC 28551. Howell’s is a special needs assisted living center, where Connie’s son Jamie resides.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.andrewsmortuary.com, A Market Street Chapel Service.