A funeral service celebrating the life of John Calvin Griffith, Jr, will be held at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at Bethel Baptist Church, Martin, LA with Bro. Wiley Cole officiating. Burial to follow in Holley Springs Cemetery, Martin, LA. The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. until service time at the church Wednesday morning.
Mr. Griffith was born on January 23, 1927 in Cotton Valley, LA to John Calvin Griffith, Sr. and Vallie Huckaby Griffith and went to be with his Lord and Savior on February 3, 2022 in Grapevine, TX. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, deacon, retired SWEPCO employee, and World War II Veteran. Mr. Griffith served in the United States Army and was part of the wintertime invasion forces heading to Japan when peace was declared in the Pacific. He completed his time in the Army in the Philippines in all wool clothing (one of the many stories his family loved to hear). He was a member and deacon of Bethel Baptist Church in Martin and previously a member of Lakeshore Baptist Church in Shreveport. Working at SWEPCO offered him friends and colleagues for his 42-year career and into retirement. Mr. Griffith loved being "down home" on his family's homestead in Martin. He gained strength and comfort from being home in the country and had fond family memories from his over 90 years of time in Martin.
Mr. Griffith is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 70 years, Helen Jones Griffith; his parents; and siblings, Carolyn Elizabeth Griffith Giddings, Hazel Griffith Pearson, and Ralph Griffith. Left as his legacy are his children, Mark Griffith and wife, Lisa, Charlotte Griffith Witte and husband, James, Eric Griffith and wife, Doreen; his grandchildren, Leslie Witte (Roger) Cooper, Brian James (Renae) Witte, Daniel John (Jessalynn) Witte, Emily Carol Griffith, and Erin Elizabeth Griffith; and great-grandchildren, Sam, Sarah, Taylor, and Catherine Cooper and Lilly May.
Honoring Mr. Griffith as pallbearers will be Brian, Daniel, and James Witte, Ben and Greg Bryant, and Rob McElwee. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Randy Grigsby, Chris Moore, Travis Guin, Bert Mercer, Bill Adair, and Ray Davis.
The family gives a special thanks to the friends and families traveling to celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations may be made in John and Helen Griffith's name to the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home, 7200 Desiard St, Monroe, LA 71203.