Virginia Griffin

Virginia B. Griffin,89, passed away Monday, December 28 following a brief illness. Virginia was born to Gladys and Harold Beavers in Richmond, VA. She moved to Churchland, VA when she married her husband of 65 years, Straughan “Jack” Griffin prior to him departing for Europe during the war. During the war years Virginia worked for Seaboard Railroad. When Jack came home from the war, he and Virginia started a family and had four children, Linda, Lee, Ann and Neal. Mom raised her children in an atmosphere of support and security, encouraging them to learn, laugh and love. When her youngest child started first grade mom began a career as a kindergarten teacher and eventually became the director at Churchland Baptist Church pre-school. That career lasted 29 years. Mom really enjoyed having someone say to her, “Hi Mrs. Griffin, you taught me in kindergarten.” She didn’t like it as much when they said, “You taught my mom.” And she liked it even less when time had passed and they said, “You taught my grandmother.” She raised her children at Churchland Baptist and served as deacon; and in many other capacities at the church. She was a devoted member of the Rachel Sunday school class. She loved and found solace in her Lord, her church and her church family. Joanne and Steve Fisher, friends from church, held a very special place in mom’s heart Mom loved to travel, to read and to learn. She loved a new adventure and instilled that sense of wonder and exploration in her children. Mom had a gift for insight as to people’s emotional, spiritual, and material needs and touched many lives in her loving, healing, and nurturing manner. She loved her family – children; nieces and nephews, siblings, and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents, Gladys and Harold Beavers; her husband Straughan; her son, Lee; her sister Eleanor; and her brothers Alvin, Harold, Jr. and Vernon. She is survived by her sister Lois; her children, Linda, Ann, and Neal (Amy); a granddaughter, Courtney; a great-granddaughter, Tzipora; a cousin, Verna and many nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 2nd in Churchland Baptist Church with burial to follow in the church cemetery. The family encourages all friends and family to gather in the church Social Hall for a reception following the service and in mom’s words, “Eat, visit, laugh and get on with your lives! And always be family, caring for and loving each other.” In lieu of flowers, donations in mom’s memory may be made to Churchland Baptist Church, 3031 Churchland Blvd., Chesapeake, VA 23321 or to the Box of Rain Foundation, established in her son Lee’s memory to mentor disadvantaged youth, P. O. Box 3557, Annapolis, MD 21403.

Virginia Griffin

December 28, 2015