Endowment established to honor memory of ‘nurse’s nurse’ 

The “nurse’s nurse.”  

That’s how the College of Nursing and the Augusta community remember Joyce Grimaud, who passed away at the beginning of 2024. Her 51-year nursing career and legacy will be remembered through an endowment established during Augusta Gives 2024.  

Her niece, Jeannette Andrews, PhD, dean of the University of South Carolina College of Nursing, set up the fund to support full-time undergraduate nursing students interested in becoming cardiovascular nurses. Scholarships will be given based on either financial need or merit.

Andrews previously established the Joyce R. Grimaud Cardiovascular Nursing Scholarship in 2012. Andrews, who graduated from the Medical College of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Science in 1986 after earning an associate’s degree from then Augusta College in 1984, was honored as a distinguished alumna by the College of Nursing during Alumni Weekend in April 2024.

“Aunt Joyce inspired, encouraged and mentored so many young students and nurses throughout her entire career,” Andrews said. “I learned so much from her during my early years as a young, registered nurse at the VA and throughout my career. Not only her expert skills and the ‘science of nursing,’ but her compassion, professionalism and her advocacy for the patients she cared for. She will always remain a giant to me as a role model for nursing.” 

An Augusta native, Grimaud graduated from the Academy of Richmond County in 1959 and Barrett School of Nursing-University Hospital in 1962. She taught in the medical lab at MCG and was recognized as the MCG Outstanding Contributor in 2007, earning the MCG Dean’s Award of Appreciation in 2009. She served as a cardiovascular nurse for 26 years at the VA Hospital.  

Since the establishment of the scholarship in Grimaud’s name, nine students have received financial support to pursue cardiovascular nursing. Leah Skinner, who earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in May 2024, was the most recent recipient of the award. Skinner met Grimaud and Andrews at the College of Nursing Annual Scholarship and Awards Ceremony in the fall. 

“I had a wonderful time talking with Ms. Joyce about her career in cardiac nursing,” Skinner recalled. “She was very interested in my love for cardiac, as we shared the same love. Hearing how long she worked as a nurse and the years she spent specializing in cardiac was very special and personal for me. Receiving her scholarship and meeting her really confirmed that I am doing exactly what God put me on this earth to do, and that is to be a cardiac nurse.” 

After learning of Grimaud’s passing in January, Skinner said she felt a sense of honor to have met her.  

“I know she left a lasting impression on every family member and patient she met,” Skinner said. 

To contribute, visit the the Joyce R. Grimaud Cardiovascular Nursing Scholarship Endowment page page, and for a list of all CON scholarships, visit the College of Nursing scholarship page.