Indiana educator Ann Grissom-Wilkins succumbed to Covid-19 on Jan. 19, 2021. She passed away just one day after her husband of 33 years. Photo credit: IndyStar

With great sadness we report that Covid-19 has claimed the life of yet another beloved educator. Ann Grissom-Wilkins, a public school teacher in Indianapolis, Indiana, succumbed to the disease on Jan. 9, 2021. She was just 59 years old.

Ann was born in 1961 in Detroit, Michigan. As a young girl, she attended Cass Technical High School in her home city. After her high school graduation in 1979, she attended Butler University, a private university located in Indianapolis.

The fallen educator had taught for 13 years in Indiana Public Schools. During those years, she also worked for local teachers’ unions, the Indiana State Teachers Association and for the Indiana Education Association.

According to family and friends, Ann was always promoting public school education. “She (was) deeply committed to her profession and her fellow educators,” recalled Indianpolis Public Schools Superintendent Alessia Johnson. “I think what she did well was holding everyone to account, because at the end of the day, her goal was kids were getting served as well.”

Since last March, the couple tried to do everything they could not to get sick. Family members said the couple were very careful because Ronald was a diabetic and Ann had recently completed radiation therapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Despite all their precautions, both became ill and were hospitalized with a diagnosis of Covid-19. Ronald passed away on Jan. 8, and Ann succumbed one day later. Heartbroken family members note that Ann and Ronald had met as youngsters, while both were students at Indianapolis Public School #43. The couple had been married for 33 years, and they had three children.

To read more about this hardworking and dedicated teacher, see her story published by WRTV Indianapolis.