Grady Money was born June 7, 1907, in Pike County, Alabama, the oldest child of Jim and Berta Money. He has one brother, Arnold Money of Opp, and four sisters: Caron Johnson, Opp; Zelda Medley, Crestview, Florida; Thelma Kelsoe, Opp; and Foye Brown, deceased.
The Money family moved to the Rose Hill Community when Grady was about four years old. He attended elementary school at Rose Hill and began high school at Straughn, later transferring to Dozier High School to play football. Before he graduated it was necessary for Grady to leave school and help on the farm, but he continued his education by taking correspondence courses in radio and electricity. He always had a keen interest and a talent for the field of electronics, and he has continued to pursue that interest.
In 1928 Grady married Clara Andrews. They have one daughter, Jean Woodham of Tampa, Florida, one grandson, Jimmy Woodham of Tampa.
Grady and his family moved from Rose Hill to Opp in 1935 where he found employment as an auto mechanic. After working at this job for a while, he opened his own shop to do repair work, electrical wiring and plumbing. At the beginning of World War 11, Grady was called into defense work. He taught classes at Troy State and the University of Alabama in the use and repair of radio. After this he was sent to the Atomic Research Center in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where he helped make the first atomic bomb. Grady is sure the workers never knew just what they were making until it was finished.
Grady came back to Opp after the war and reopened his shop. In addition to his shop work, Grady developed and operated a skating rink and snack bar in a converted cattle barn. He saw a need for the young people of this area to have a nice place to go for fun and recreation, and he did something about it.
Grady’s last full-time employment before retirement was Civil Service in Fort Rucker and Eglin Air Force Base. Grady received many letters of appreciation from his officers in testimony to his constant effort to give efficient and helpful service.
Grady and Clara are members of the First Baptist Church where he serves as a Senior Deacon, Chairman of the Extension Department, photographer and Director of Audio-Visual equipment, making tapes of church services to be used for the shut- ins. He has accompanied groups on numerous church mission tours where he assisted in repairing and building churches, conducting Bible studies and revival services. He was a moving force in beginning such programs as Sunday School at Mizell Memorial Hospital and the city jail, devotional programs and group signings at the nursing homes. He is involved in a teaching ministry through puppet shows he creates and often writes the accompanying script. He has cultivated his ability to paint and presents “Chalk Talks”. He dressed as a clown and provided both entertainment and moral values for children in his “Pastor’s Pals” group.
Grady is a past President of the Goober Kampar’s Club, which is affiliated with the National Campers and Hikers Association. He serves actively in AARP and the church JOY group.
Grady Money has been endowed with many talents and each of those talents has been diligently employed in service to his fellowman. His quiet unassuming demeanor manifests itself in his desire to serve without praise or honor. The measure of his contribution is in the difference he has made in the lives of others; the value of his contribution is in the friendship shared and the bond of love felt by those lives he has touched. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.
