Ben R. Griffin, Jr.

Ben Griffin, Jr., age 79, a resident of Cleveland, passed away, Monday April 30, 2007 in a local healthcare facility. He was a member of Hopewell Baptist Church and attended Big Spring Baptist Church. He was the son of the late Ben and Vona Griffin. He was a veteran of World War II where in served in the South Pacific. Mr. Griffin was a life member of D.A.V. Chapter 25. Before his retirement in 1993 he was employed with Maytag Corporation where he was a long distant truck driver for 45 years. Mr. Griffin was presented an award for logging over three million miles as a driver.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Martha (Lucy) Gill Griffin of Cleveland; son, Gary Griffin and wife, Jan of Chattanooga; two granddaughters: Rhonda Elliston and husband, Jody of Live Oak, FL; Dana Johnson and husband, Jason of St. Augustine, FL; two step daughters: Leigh Humkey and husband, Chris of Graysville, GA and Lori Brown and husband, Harold of Hixson; one great grandson, Jacob Elliston of FL; two great grandchildren, Emily and Benjamin Humkey of GA; one brother, Bobby Griffin and wife, Jackie of Cleveland; two sisters: Wanda Ark of Cleveland and Connie Forgey of Crandall, GA and several nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Fike Funeral Home with the Reverend George Bulson and Patrick Wooden officiating. Interment will follow at Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery with military honors and his nephews serving as pallbearers. A white dove release ceremony will conclude the service.

His family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.