Margaret L. Grissom

Lisa Agricola Grissom, February 11th, 1953 - October 22, 2022

Lisa was born in Gadsden, Alabama on Lookout Mountain which may account for her deep love of the mountains and nature, the daughter of Toby and Bird (Otto II and Betty) Agricola. Growing up on Ninth Street, Lisa attended the Episcopal Day school, the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter, Disque and Gadsden High School. Her daughter's Kate (Katherine Elizabeth) and Jesse (Jesse Irene) were both born at the Holy Name of Jesus Hospital in Gadsden.
Lisa was one of those rare people born knowing what her vocation would be, as it was also her passion. She tended, bandaged, and chased her siblings around with “shot givers” (needless syringes) before she was even in kindergarten. One of the proudest days of her life, as a single mom with two girls, was her graduation from Nursing school as an RN.
Lisa had the gift of music. In Gadsden, she took piano, art, and dancing lessons. Lisa also had perfect pitch and from just a few seconds could name a song, vocalist, or group. She loved singing and dancing with her grandson, Isaac, and sharing her music loves like the Beatles and folk and blue grass. The morning she passed we sang, ‘Hello My Baby, Hello My Honey’ together and laughed.
Shortly after graduating from nursing school in 1984, Lisa followed her sisters to Pensacola, FL. She fell in love with the beach which brought her peace and solace. Swimming in the Gulf was one of her greatest joys and her daughters lovingly called her a mermaid.
Lisa was an unrivaled cook and could usually be found dancing in the kitchen. She was most famous for her “Trance” cookies. So named because when you ate one, you felt like you had gone into a trance and could not stop eating them. Every Christmas, she made hundreds of these and gave them as Christmas presents. Grandnephew Land, age 3, would greet her, “Hello Aunt Lisa, did you bring the cookies?”, because, indeed, she always did.
Lisa was an artist and loved to create, making glorious one-of-a-kind pieces that she called her “potions”. Her “potions” were commissioned and sold, but were mostly gifts from the heart for family, friends, and of course, the newborns. They were always her special blend of mixed media, and each was unique and spectacular.
Lisa's 30+ year nursing career included all types of nursing but was mostly spent at Gulf Breeze Hospital where she was an Emergency Room nurse and was awarded the well-deserved Nurse of the Year Award. Lisa was what she called an old-fashioned nurse, which meant she was hands-on. She cared for each of her patients, giving the best care with respect and kindness.
Generosity was the theme of Lisa's life. You had only to mention that you liked something she had, and she would give it to you with joy. She never regretted a single thing she gave, as giving brought her great happiness.

Lisa's humor was famous. On her last day, she laughed with family and joked with her health care providers. She loved a good joke or pun, often making a hilarious play on words. She gave everyone
quirky nicknames, named inanimate objects (usually funny, off color names), and in general made laughter easy for all who knew her.
Lisa's faith, from birth to death, never wavered. She knew where she was headed and spoke of it often in a humorous way such as “dancing with St Pete” or “going to Jesus”. She was a believer in the Communion of Saints and had great respect for all religions and beliefs. Lisa died pain-free with faith, courage, and peace surrounded and comforted by her family and her beloved pooches in Greenville, SC in her daughter’s home. She will be missed beyond words.
In loving memory of Lisa’s generous spirt, memorial donations can be made to the Pensacola Humane Society or the Alabama Adaptive Athletics Children’s Camp Basketball Scholarship fund. Two causes near and dear to her heart.
Her family includes: her daughters Kate Burttram, Jesse and son-in-law Christian Martini and grandson Isaac Martini, all of Greenville, SC. Siblings: Jon Agricola Sr, Ceil and Greg Reese, Toe (Otto III) and Kim Agricola, Dee Whisenhunt, all of Gulf Breeze, FL, Larry and Jo Austin of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Nieces and nephews: Jonathon Agricola Jr, Jeremy Agricola, Eric and Christina Agricola, Jessica and Micah Fulcher, Emily and Brian Lewellyn, and Miller Whisenhunt of Pensacola, FL. Liz and Kris Whipple of Nashville, TN, Brian and Janelle Austin of Austin, TX, Steven and Ashlan Austin of Maui, HI, Ford and Denise Burttram of Tuscaloosa, AL, John Michael Whisenhunt of Colorado Springs, CO, Josh and Laurie Burttram of Remlap, AL. Also, a plethora of great nieces and nephews.

Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm, Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm, Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray, Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day. Amen.
-Jan Struther 1933