Marjorie W. Griffin

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Marjorie W. Griffin, 93, peacefully joined her loved ones in heaven on Friday, May 22, 2020 after a lingering battle of heart issues. 

Marjorie was the first baby girl born in the brand-new Huntsville, Alabama hospital in 1926. She moved to Nashville, Tn. with her parents at an early age and attended Cavert, Aiken, and Jere Baxter elementary schools and graduated from Isaac Litton High School in 1944. During high school, Marjorie enjoyed softball, playing the piano, playing on the basketball team, and she was a member of the Honor Society and a member of the National Girls' Reserve. In 1948, Marjorie graduated from Peabody College of Education (now Vanderbilt). She moved from Nashville when she began her first teaching position in Dothan, Al., where she met the sweetheart of her life, Bailey Griffin. On their first date, a blind date, they both knew they would marry each other, and three months later, they married in a beautiful wedding ceremony at Inglewood Methodist Church in Nashville. Bailey was a devout Presbyterian and after saying 'I do', Marjorie happily and willingly converted from being a Methodist to being a full-fledged Presbyterian. Marjorie and Bailey enjoyed 48 loving years of marriage until Bailey's death in 1997. They held strong Christian values, lived their lives accordingly, and lived by the Golden Rule.

Marjorie and Bailey were groundbreaking members of Trinity Presbyterian Church when they lived in Alabama after they married. After moving to metro Atlanta in the early 1960's, Marjorie and Bailey were members of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Tucker and Glen Haven Presbyterian Church in Decatur. Bailey retired as a business administrator after 25 years of service with the Atlanta Presbyterian Center and Marjorie retired from DeKalb County Board of Education after teaching 31 years at several schools, including Henderson Mill Elementary in Tucker, GA and Rockbridge Elementary in Stone Mountain, Ga. While teaching at Rockbridge, she was selected Teacher of the Year during the 1986-87 school year. After retirement, Marjorie and Bailey made their new home in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Rabun Gap, Ga. They were members of Rabun Gap Presbyterian Church, sang in the choir, and both served as Elders in the church. After Bailey's death in 1997, Marjorie remained active in the church for years until moving away from the area to be closer to her daughters. She put family and faith first in life, and she was a true inspiration to her family and to her friends.

Throughout the years, Marjorie was a gifted cook and prepared the best homemade meals nightly. She always cooked a feast for Sunday dinners, on special occasions, and at holidays. Her chicken and dumplings, lasagna, chop suey, pot roast, blackberry cobbler, egg custard pies, and pecan pies were always in high demand and were almost world famous. She believed in family meals with everyone gathered around the kitchen table, and she always made her family feel special.

Word must have spread about Marjorie's holiday cooking because one Thanksgiving in the early 1970's, a young man no one in the family knew, presented himself at the front door right before the Thanksgiving meal was served. Being the kindhearted lady Marjorie was, she invited the stranger to join the family for Thanksgiving dinner. The young man happily accepted the invitation, sat down at the table and enjoyed one of the finest turkey feasts he could have ever imagined. After dinner, the stranger entertained everyone with his piano playing skills, and to this day, no one knows who the stranger was, but that day, Marjorie treated him like family - the way she treated everyone every day.

In addition to being a wonderful cook, Marjorie was a talented seamstress, making the majority of her clothes and her daughters' clothes back in the 1950's and 1960's, burning the midnight oil many late Saturday nights prior to Easter Sunday to finish everyone's new Easter dress. In later years, she turned into a crossword puzzle whiz, and if she'd ever gotten the opportunity to be a contestant on the Wheel of Fortune, she probably would have won the grand prize. Marjorie had a keen sense of humor and a quick wit. She enjoyed music of all kinds, especially traditional gospel songs and songs by Bing Crosby. She loved watching ALL sports, and if sports were on TV, she tuned in. She loved watching football, basketball, and baseball games. The teams didn't matter, nor did it matter who won... well, except for the Atlanta Braves. The Braves were her favorite team and Hammerin' Hank Aaron was her favorite player. She loved the Braves, even when Hank Aaron seemed to be the only player who could hit the ball.

The following questions/answers were part of a series of interview questions asked of Marjorie in a mother/daughter interview several years ago:

Daughter: "What would you like people to remember most about you?"

Marjorie: "That I was kind and considerate of others."

Daughter: "What would you like Karen and Nancy to know?

Marjorie: "Their mama and daddy loved them very much and we did the best we could. We hope they have happy memories of their childhood. We have happy memories of them growing up."

Daughter: "What would you like your son-in-laws to know?"

Marjorie: "That I love my boys. They are like sons to me. They make sure I have what I need."

Daughter: "What would you like your grandchildren and great-grandchildren to know?"

Marjorie: "That I was a sweet old lady and I love them."

Daughter: "What would your advice be to someone just starting out in the world?"

Marjorie: "Always tell the truth, try to help people, be kind, be considerate, be honest, and work hard."

Marjorie was loved and respected by those who knew her. She cherished her family and the close friendships and bonds she'd formed through the places she lived and through her church.

Marjorie is predeceased by her parents, Alvena and William Lester Wilson; beloved husband, Bailey Griffin; daughter, Kellie Sue Griffin; and son in law, Jim Stepp.

Marjorie is survived by her daughters, Nancy G. Stepp, Karen G. Dean and husband, Henry; grandchildren, Stephanie and husband, Mark, Kellie and husband, Andrew; and three great-grandchildren: Harley, Miles Bailey, and Atticus.

The family wishes to thank the angels of Great Oaks Gardens Senior Living and Park Place Nursing facility in Monroe, Ga., and especially thank Abbey Hospice of Social Circle for their love, compassion, and great care given during Mrs. Griffin's home stretch before her journey to heaven.

In lieu of flowers, if you'd like, a remembrance donation in Marjorie's name may be made to her home church Rabun Gap Presbyterian Church of Rabun Gap, Ga,, Habitat for Humanity, or any cancer or Alzheimer's research foundation of your choice.

Due to CDC COVID-19 restrictions, a private family graveside service will held in Dothan, AL. Arrangements by Tim Stewart Funeral Home, 670 Tom Brewer Rd. Loganville, Ga. 30052.