Ray C. Griffin Sr.

Ray Ceclephus Griffin, Sr., fell asleep in death on April 24th at 1:30 AM. It was peaceful and without pain. Ray’s death was as Jesus described about Lazarus to his disciples, when Jesus was told Lazarus was dead. Jesus said Lazarus was asleep, and so too was Ray. As I looked at him it took several minutes to realize he was no longer simply sleeping, but in the sleep which he would only awaken when he was called by Jehovah God. Ray was born March 23, 1923, in Pasquotank County, North Carolina to Clarence S. and Lucille Speller Griffin. He was the eighth of thirteen children. He was educated in the Pasquotank County Public School System and graduated from P.W. Moore High School. He married his childhood sweetheart, Elsie M. Bell, in 1946, and from that union came two children, Ray C. Griffin, Jr., and Sherry Griffin. Ray served in the United States Army as a Chauffeur for the Medical Core for 6 years, from 1943 to 1949. After the Army, he took courses in electronics, plumbing, electrical wiring, and radio and television repair. Ray acquired a job with Republic Aviation Corporation working on wiring jet planes. (“He was color blind”) After the Republic Aviation Corporation closed, Ray then started driving a cab in Brooklyn, New York. Ray also took a course in barbering and opened his first barber shop, “Ray’s Barber Shop”, in Brooklyn, New York, from which he retired. (Remember those days when some of you went with him for an all-day trip to Ray’s Barber Shop, your job was to sweep the hair up off the floor and, in the end, leaving with a fresh new haircut?) Ray observed the joy his wife and daughter had from attending meetings and talking with people about Jehovah's kingdom and how through his son Jesus the earth will be restored to a paradise. One day, when they were going to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Ray told them to wait! They did not understand why? Out of nowhere, he was dressed to go with them to learn what this was about. After going that day, he decided to have a personal Bible study to learn more. Ray never stopped attending meetings, and soon joined his family in the ministry. Ray was baptized August 1985, and became an ordained minister of Jehovah God. Ray was appointed a ministerial servant and was honored to be used by Jehovah to help others draw close to Jehovah God and his son Jesus. He enjoyed being out in the ministry with his wife, daughter and friends in the congregation. Since he was retired, Ray would be privileged to take the lead in getting the group out in the ministry. The young brothers also enjoyed working with Brother Griffin in the ministry. Ray was always available despite his age, for whatever the brothers needed, whether at the local congregation or special events. As it became difficult for him to be out in the ministry, he still enjoyed singing the kingdom songs and the friends enjoyed hearing him sing. Ray associated with Eastern Parkway and Lincoln Congregation in Brooklyn, New York, as well as the Dover congregations, in Dover, Delaware and the Woodside Congregation, in Felton, Delaware. Ray C. Griffin, Sr., was a family man that took pride in taking care of and doing things with his family. He always gave words of wisdom and guiding everyone through life. He was a father and a friend to all who knew him. He taught his grandkids how to cut hair and he cut their hair when needed. “Yes, free haircuts”. Ray’s memory is preserved by his devoted wife, Elsie Griffin; son Ray C. Griffin, Jr. (Linda K.); daughter, Sherry Griffin; son Ceclephus Arthur Bush; daughter-in-law, Betty J. Babb; brothers-in-law, George Bell and Donald Lee Allen; grandkids, Ray C Griffin III, Wendell Craig Babb (Adelia Roseanne), Lisa M. O. Griffin, Jamilah J. Wirtenson (Brent Michael), Kendall W. Griffin (Nickey A.), Fela Babb, Douglas W. Griffin, Reginald S. Griffin (Amina), Jo’ella S. Griffin, Devant-e Bush; 28 great-grandkids and two great great-grandkids. Ray was preceded in death by his stepson, Melvin O. Babb. Lovingly submitted, The Family To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ray C. Griffin Sr., please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Ray C. Griffin Sr.

March 23, 1923 - April 24, 2018