By Taylor Boyd
For decades, George Andrew Grogan was a familiar sight in Meadows of Dan — chatting with neighbors at Poor Farmers’ Market, attending community events and making visitors feel at home.
Following his death on April 29 at Mountain Valley-Joan & Howard Woltz Hospice Home, friends and community members say Meadows of Dan has lost one of its most recognizable and beloved residents.
Grogan was 86.
Born in Martinsville, Grogan worked for the U.S. Postal Service, first as a delivery driver and later as a postmaster. He was a member of Mayberry Presbyterian Church.
He is survived by his nephew, Trip Eller; niece, Elizabeth Secrest; great-nieces and great-nephews Lilly Secrest, Atticus Secrest, Cassie Peele, and Emily Peele; and his faithful dog, Knucklehead.
Although he never had children of his own, friends said family was one of the most important parts of his life.
Jack Betts said Grogan doted on his nephew and niece, whom he affectionately nicknamed “Dude” and “Sug.”
“He taught them to swim and ride a bike. George took the two of them to the beach and to the pool in the summer. In the winter, he took them sledding. Instead of building traditional snowmen, they’d fashioned dinosaurs and dragons and use food coloring to make them more life-like,” Betts said.
Grogan also taught his niece how to drive in Oakwood Cemetery, Betts noted.
Beyond his devotion to family, Betts said Grogan was known for treating everyone with respect, regardless of their views.
Betts joked that, as one person once remarked, Grogan was one of only a handful of people in Patrick County willing to openly identify as a Democrat.
“And there was that bumper sticker which left no question as to where he stood. But that aside, George was always civil, even to those with whom he disagreed. He never condemned others. George showed us how to be respectful in a world filled with hate. We need more people like George in our world,” Betts said.
Friends also remembered Grogan’s sense of humor and his willingness to laugh at himself.
“Who else would relish nicknames like ‘Chicken George,’” Betts said, recalling a sign made by friend Mike Gillette that Grogan proudly displayed at his home.
Grogan maintained a flock of chickens, inspiring another sign that read “Chicken Crossing.”
“Motorists didn’t always abide by the sign as George lost several chickens to traffic on DeHart Road,” Betts said.
Betts described Grogan as a caring and nurturing person who deeply loved his family.
“He loved his mother so much that on his birthday, he’d send her flowers to thank her for giving him life. And in her later years, after she was confined to a wheelchair, he took care of her. He also helped take care of his older sister during her last days,” he said.
Even during his final illness, Betts said Grogan remained positive.
“We will miss him. The best way we can honor George is to learn from his demeanor, to care for others, and to jump in and help our communities thrive,” Betts said.
A fixture at Poor Farmers’ Market
For many residents and visitors, Grogan became synonymous with Poor Farmers’ Market, where he spent time nearly every day.
Felecia Shelor said Grogan loved visiting the business because it gave him an opportunity to see friends and neighbors.
“He was always there, and what he loved about it was seeing his neighbors and friends and visiting with people there. He was at Poor Farmers’ Market every day just because he wanted to see his neighbors and friends and visit. Everybody loved him,” she said.
Even before moving to Meadows of Dan in the late 1970s, Shelor said Grogan had deep roots in the community.
“He moved here as soon as he could, and he was always part of our lives all of these years, a big part of our life. Now, there’s a big George Grogan-sized hole in our lives. He was a very significant part of Meadows of Dan, a very significant part of the community that everyone knew and loved,” she said.
Shelor said one of Grogan’s greatest gifts was making people feel welcome.
“He was really good with our customers because he would always be really friendly with them, so he was like the face of Meadows of Dan to our customers. He made people feel welcome and like they’re part of our community,” she said.
‘Like an uncle’
Trinity Goad, who has worked at Poor Farmers’ Market for 33 years, said he had known Grogan throughout most of that time.
“He was amazing, he was totally like an uncle to me. Even when he was sick with cancer and stuff, he made it a point to come up here and see me just to say hello and make sure I was okay. He was here every morning and every afternoon,” Goad said.
According to Goad, Grogan’s routine rarely changed.
“He came up every morning and got a cup of coffee and a biscuit and gravy, and every evening he came in and either got chocolate ice cream or a chocolate milkshake after he took his dog for a walk,” he said.
Goad said Grogan’s presence became part of daily life in Meadows of Dan.
“Everyone who’s ever been to Poor Farmers’ Market knows George. He was always out here, and he was always so friendly. People would come and sit and talk with him and stuff, so he was definitely a face of the Meadows of Dan community,” he said.
Grogan also supported countless local events, Goad said.
“Anything that was community-oriented, he was there, so he was definitely the face of Meadows of Dan,” he said.
Of all his memories, Goad said Grogan’s attitude toward life stands out most.
“I’ve never seen this man irritated or sad or mad; he was always happy. My favorite thing he used to do with me is I would be like, ‘You know, George, I forgot to do this at my house, or I forgot to do this.’ And he’s like, ‘Trinity, it doesn’t get any better. It doesn’t get any better, just accept it, it doesn’t get any better,’” Goad said.
Small gestures, lasting memories
Charlie Webb said she met Grogan when she began working at Poor Farmers’ Market 21 years ago.
“We would take walks. He always had Jack Russell dogs, and Jack was the one that I knew, and he loved, loved that dog, but we would take walks over to where he used to live on Strawberry Hill Road,” she said.
Webb remembered Grogan as a talented baker who made homemade cream puffs for her birthday every year.
“He was just a wonderful person,” she said.
In addition to seeing him daily at the market, Webb cleaned Grogan’s house for 14 years.
“Which I fairly enjoyed doing,” she said.
One keepsake continues to remind her of their friendship.
“One thing Webb will always remember about Grogan is the little origami ring he made her out of a dollar bill when she first started at Poor Farmers’ Market.
“I still have that to this day. He was such a special person to us,” Webb said.
For those who knew him, Grogan’s legacy extends far beyond his years in Meadows of Dan. Friends say he will be remembered for his kindness, his humor, his devotion to family and community, and the way he made both neighbors and strangers feel welcome.
