Tony D Grimes

TONY DEMARCO GRIMES, beloved son of Antainez D. Keene and the late James Accurtis Grimes, Jr., was born on March 10, 1983 in Baltimore, Md. He was called home to our Lord and Savior on November 22, 2024 as a result of an unforeseen and sudden medical trauma.

Tony, lovingly known as "Tone-Tone" or Tone Loc," by family and close friends, attended Northern High School and graduated in June of 2001. Although he held many jobs and worked in various capacities, it was his budding career in Dentistry that he was most proud of. Tony served as a Dental Assistant for an Oral Surgeon while studying to become a Dental Technician. He had aspirations of becoming a Dentist. Tony prided himself on giving unsolicited dental advice to friends and family who accepted it with love. In addition to Dentistry, Tony considered himself a chef of sorts. You could always find him in the kitchen crafting new dishes as well as critiquing culinary creations of others. He was well-known for his peach cobbler egg rolls, which he even sold at pop-up events around town where he consistently received rave reviews.

Tony gave his life to Christ at an early age and was Baptized at Christian Unity Temple under the leadership of the Reverend Dr. Maude Coleman and Howard C. Jackson, respectively. There, he served in the Children's Choir and was also a Jr. Usher. He was an active member and servant of First Charity Baptist Church in Baltimore, MD, where he served in many roles, including audio development, Media Technician, camera installer, and  sound man. He attended Coppin State College for a year, studying Media Technology. Although he enjoyed serving in these various tasks, he most enjoyed playing with the band and the praise and worship team as an honorary member of sorts (self-inducted, by the way). He loved playing the congas.

Tony loved his First Charity Family and always embraced each one with a big smile and the best loving hugs. He always had a way of making you feel special. He loved all his First Charity ladies, especially his audio tape ladies crew, Ms. Stephanie & Ms. Carolyn. But hands down, it was Sister Neal who stole his heart with her special crab cake deviled eggs! As for his church guys, he always looked to Joe Howell as his spiritual godfather and "Uncle G" was his guy/collaborative partner on the food journey. "Pop Harlee" was his main man at heart, but Julian (Ju-Ju, as he fondly called him), was his little buddy. The two would wander off and go to the vending machine after Sunday service (always sneaking snacks under his mother's peering eye) while leaving him a little extra in his pocket.

If you knew Tony, you knew he was a consummate Ravens fan, and you could always find him in Ravens gear or with the fellas on Sundays watching the game. Tony really loved hanging out with his friends and family. You could always see that big smile and hear that distinctive laugh when he was around the likes of his brothers Ian, Snooch, L.T., Lamar, Richard, Nathaniel, Mike and Jamal and his cousins, Aaron, Christina and Donn. His cousins were his girls when it came to food and late-night refrigerator raids--Aquia with her macaroni and cheese and oxtails, and Shavonne with her lasagna. Sunny and Sequoia were his go-to girls; they always had his back no matter how many times he asked or how much they fussed.

Tony later met Andrea Morrison through a family acquaintance and they eventually became romantically involved. This connection subsequently bore Tony's only child and the love of his life, his son, Nile DeMarco Grimes. Having Nile for a son literally changed Tony's life. You could see a difference in him. He was more intentional, he was more focused on his future, he was indeed fatherly and loving--always kissing him or nugging his head affectionately. He saw Nile as "DaMan" (which was the nick name he chose for his son). Tony was shown true fatherhood by his beloved Stepfather, Jon Gregory Graham, who showed him that fatherhood was not just a word, it was a call to action.

Tony was preceded in death by members of his paternal family, including his father, James Grimes, Jr., his sister, Cheryl Grimes, his grandmother, Mary Grimes, grandfather, James A. Grimes, Sr. and his aunts, Grace Jarboi and Pamela Jones. As well, his maternal family preceding him in death includes his grandmother, Pauline Keene, grandfather, Leo Keene, his uncles, Butch & Freddie Keene Sr., and bonus grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond & Catherine Day and Mr. & Mrs. Sylvester and Arnita Graham.

He leaves to mourn and carry on his loving spirit, his mother, Antainez "Toni" Keene, his son, Nile Grimes; his brothers, Ian Graham (Mika), Jon "Snootch" Graham, Jr., (Keya); James A. Grimes III and Accurtiss Grimes; his sister, Margo Grimes; his bonus sisters, Lashawn Cannon, Sierra Pyles and Sequoia Walker (Jefferey) of Atlanta, Georgia; bonus brothers, James Nicolas, Dashawn Brogden, Michael Reese, Aaron Scott, Kenny Grays, Thomas "LT" Webster, Lamar York, Nathaniel Tyler; Nick Miles and Jamal. Aunts Tabatha W. Keene, Mary Catherine Williams, Christine Keene-Bowie, Brenda Huff, of Washington D.C. Patrice Jones, (Ricky) of Baltimore MD, uncle Earl "Puddin" Keene and his aunt/bonus grandmother, Barbara Keene (Ruffin), in addition to a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friend, family and coworkers.