James Tyrone Groce

James Tyrone Groce', known as "Wink" to family and friends, went home to be with the Lord on August 15, 2024, at his home in Easton, Md, he was 74. A descendant of the Frederick Douglass family, he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend.

In addition to his parents, he was proceeded in death by his grandparents Araminta Broadway and Percy Jacobs, and Harry Groce' and Pearl Bailey-Groce along with brothers Vernon Wayne Jacobs and Lee Hill, and sister Fontella Jacobs. 

Wink was born in Easton on August 20, 1949, to the late Emma Virginia Lee Harris and James Henry Groce' and was raised in Starr, Md. He attended Queen Anne’s County High School and was a gifted baseball and basketball player. He played baseball for the Cordova Angels and Astros and remained a lifelong fan of the New York Giants and Atlanta Braves.

Immediately following his graduation in June 1967, Wink was drafted into the United States Army and saw action in the Vietnam War with the First Army Brigade’s Big Red One artillery unit, the country’s oldest field unit. He was honorably discharged in 1969 and returned to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He married Elsie Bailey on February 16, 1979, and was employed by Ward and Components in Cordova for 18 years. He later worked at Wheaton Tubing before joining Konsyl Pharmaceuticals for more than 20 years.

Wink was an avid supporter of youth sports. He was a referee for the Say No To Drugs League in the late 1980s and early 1990s at Idlewild Park. He later enjoyed attending his grandson’s Pop Warner and high school games. He was a lover of great gospel music, good food, and quality family time. He also served as chief advisor to the Bailey-Groce' Family Foundation Inc. Operation Frederick Douglass on the Hill. 

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 45 years Elsie Bailey Groce' and son Tarence (Michelle) Bailey Sr., both of Denton, Md., and daughter Wanda Bailey, of Easton Md.; grandsons Tarence Bailey Jr., of Denton, Md., Daemonitae Bailey of Easton Md, Jerrell Flanigan of Easton Maryland., and granddaughters Ayana Bailey of Dayton, Ohio, and Cheyenne Bailey of Bradenton, Fla. Terr'a Flanigan of Easton Md, brother, Calvin Hill of Easton Md., sisters, Wanda Smith (Wayne) of Denton, Md, Denese (Milton) Bolden of Federalsburg, Md., Letha Mae (Ellis) Jones of Greensboro, Md., Valena Williams of Dover De., Lavena (Jeffery) Mosley of Bridgeville, De., Betty Hunt (Eddy) of Greensboro, Md.; stepmother, Ethel Williams of Philadelphia, Pa.; uncle, Roger "Mack" Groce' of Greensboro, Md., aunts, Aleta Groce' of Greensboro, Md., and Marjorie Potts of Starr, Md., two best friends, his cousin, Marshall "Marty" Bailey of Easton, Md., and Charles Griffin of Easton, Md. and a host of nieces, nephews, cousin and friends.

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