Preston Eugene Grace's Obituary
Preston E Grace passed away peacefully in his Seaford, DE home on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at the age of 55 after a long battle with kidney disease.
Preston grew up in Greenwood, DE, graduated from Woodbridge Jr/Sr High School in 1987 and from Wilmington University in 2004. One of his fondest school memories was being on the historic basketball team that made it to the State Championship game in 1987. After high school, he worked at DuPont in Seaford and Rand-Whitney/Inland Packaging in Harrington before holding several positions in the Woodbridge School District and at S.C.O.P.E, where he retired in 2021.
Sports were a lifelong passion for Preston, or "Coach Grace" as most people knew him. In the fall of 1987 he volunteered as a coach with the Woodbridge High School football team. He loved it so much that he became an Assistant Coach with the program until his passing. There were many special seasons over those 35 years. In 1999 the team went 10-0 in the regular season, winning the Southern Division Championship and earning their first ever spot in the playoffs. The 2016 team had an undefeated 13-0 season as they won their first Division II State Championship, and this was followed with another State Championship in 2018. In addition to football, he also coached baseball and basketball for a few years, and was Head Coach of the Middle School basketball team. In 2017, he received the Ed Brown Award as Assistant Coach of the Year in Delaware High School Football. While winning games was satisfying, it was always the relationships with players and fellow coaches that he most valued. The community spirit on display during those seasons is something many will never forget and he was so proud to be part of that.
In his free time, Preston could be found at other sporting events including youth games, going to basketball tournaments with friends, or traveling around the country with his wife supporting former players at their college games. Many fall Saturdays were spent with special friends at Wesley College games. He was a proud member of the Delaware Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame since his induction in 2019.
Coach Grace leaves many people to cherish fond memories - his wife, Christine Grace; brothers Charles Grace of Washington, DC (Malaika Younger), Jerome Johnson of Bridgeville, DE, Emory Johnson of Colorado Springs, CO, and Alfred (Faye) Johnson of Seaford, DE; sister Christine Winchester of Greenwood, DE; a host of cousins; in-laws who loved him as their own, Ann and Ron Hurst Sr, and Ron Hurst Jr of Greenwood, DE; a number of very special friends including Harry Benson, Iffy Jones, Dionne (Parker) Keeler, Danny Mills, Marvin Morris, John Mosley, Danielle Richards and Ty Smith; and countless students, players, co-workers and coaches that were like family to him.
He is preceded in death by his beloved parents Preston Foreman and Elizabeth "Liz" Grace; and brothers Melvin Johnson and Ronald Taylor.
Services will be held on Saturday January 21, 2023 at the Woodbridge High School auditorium in Greenwood, DE with visitation beginning at 10 am followed by a Celebration of Life service at noon. Attendees are encouraged to wear their Woodbridge (or other school) apparel.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a scholarship being created in Coach Grace's honor and sent to Woodbridge School District, 16359 Sussex Hwy, Bridgeville, DE 19933.
What’s your fondest memory of Preston?
What’s a lesson you learned from Preston?
Share a story where Preston's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Preston you’ll never forget.
How did Preston make you smile?