James Edward Griffith

James Edward Griffith of Grand Cane died peacefully after a long illness on the evening of December 7th, surrounded by his wife, dear friends, and pastor. He was 86 years old and had just celebrated 60 years of marriage to his wife, Donna, on July 10th.

James approached life with curiosity and joy. He was a lifelong learner who embraced new challenges and never used age or health as an excuse to shrink from adventure or from learning a new skill.

Born in Grand Cane on July 17, 1939, to Lamar and Lela Mae Griffith, James enjoyed growing up in a small town and loved telling stories of the “olden days” to his children when they were young. He attended Grand Cane High School, graduating in 1957. He played basketball and discovered a love for theater that would stay with him for years to come.

James studied accounting at Northwestern State College in Natchitoches, Louisiana, and graduated in 1960. Never one to be idle or shy away from challenge, he made the leap from Louisiana to Los Angeles, California, where he initially worked as a tax auditor for the Internal Revenue Service. While in Los Angeles, he met the love of his life, Donna Polk.

Their daughter, Angela Griffith Harris, was born in Sylmar, California, in 1966. In 1968, the family relocated to Washington, D.C., where James would eventually become Chief of Tax-Exempt Organizations for the IRS. He signed off on the tax-exempt status of many controversial and high-profile cases and became one of the most knowledgeable and respected individuals in his field before taking an early retirement in 1985.

In 1977, James, Donna, and Angela welcomed Christopher Bryan Griffith into their family. The Griffiths lived in Northern Virginia for more than 17 years and were active in their church and Christian school communities. In the early 1980s, they embraced sustainable living by growing their own food and raising chickens and goats on a small farm outside the historic town of Manassas. The family later relocated to the Jackson, Mississippi, area, and by the mid-to-late 1980s, James began his next career, working for financial planning and 401(k) firms until his “second” retirement in 2007. In 2000, James and Donna moved to Northern California after the birth of their first grandchild, Ethan Griffith Harris, in 1999.

James and Donna spent more than 16 years in the Sonoma County region of Northern California and made many dear friends at work and church in Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park. After becoming fluent in Spanish during his second retirement, James began his third career as a substitute teacher for the Santa Rosa School District, a role he continued until 2016. He also loved hiking and backpacking across mountains and varied terrain on both coasts—from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the peaks of Yosemite. With Donna, he visited 49 states, as well as Europe, Mexico, and Canada.

After a brief move to Tucson, Arizona, James and Donna finally retired to Grand Cane in 2018. James was an active member of Grand Cane Baptist Church and assisted with the senior group whenever he was able. He was well known in Grand Cane for his artistic talents, which included several theatrical roles at the Back Alley Theatre. From 2019 to 2024, he was a monthly contributor to Mansfield Enterprise, covering and promoting local businesses in Grand Cane. In 2021, he served as Grand Marshal of the Grand Cane Christmas parade.

James will also be remembered for his love of history and his extensive work in family research. He was fascinated by the stories of his ancestors and approached genealogy with both rigor and joy. He was a devoted friend, partner, father, and grandfather. Above all, James professed a strong faith in God and trusted Him to guide him in all that he did.

James is preceded in death by his parents, Lamar and Lela Mae Griffith, and four siblings: Polly Griffith, Anne (Griffith) Moe, Camille (Griffith) Burgess, and Charlotte (Griffith) Thayer. He is survived by his wife, Donna (Polk) Griffith; daughter, Angela Griffith (John) Harris; son, Christopher Bryan (Kathleen) Griffith; and brother, Jerry Lamar (Nell) Griffith. He has four grandchildren who were his pride and joy: Ethan Griffith Harris of Dallas, Texas; Aidan John Harris of San Marcos, Texas; and Olivia May and Keenan Edgar Griffith of Kissimmee, Florida.

A visitation will be held at 1 p.m. at Grand Cane Baptist Church, followed directly by the funeral at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 13th. A graveside service will follow at Grand Cane Cemetery.

The family would like to thank hospice nurse Shari and hospice aide Brittany for the exceptional care they provided to James in his final days. In lieu of flowers, please send monetary gifts to the Grand Cane Baptist Church Youth Group.