Yolanda "Yoki" Griffin (Hutt)

Obituary Yolanda (Yoki) Michelle Hutt-Griffin was born in Salisbury, Maryland on November 25, 1968 to Elwood (Junebug) and Romanda Hutt. She was united in holy matrimony to Terrence Griffin on August 4, 2004. She departed this life on July 20, 2020. Yoki received her formal education in the Somerset County public schools and graduated from Washington High School in 1986. She worked at Princess Anne Elementary School as a Teacher’s Assistant. After working in the Somerset County school system, she became a library technician at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. She relocated to Virginia where her love for children inspired her to open an in-home daycare. Her desire to serve as many children as possible led her to fulfill her dream of owning her own childcare center, A Place 2 Grow Learning Center. Yoki was known for her grace, style and long fingernails. People often looked at her nails with great astonishment. She was known for her loyalty to family and friends and opened her heart and home to many; however her loyalty did not prevent her from speaking her mind and telling it like it was. If she thought it, she said it. Her famous saying was, “If you knew better, you’d do better.” She loved family gatherings and was always the life of any event. Her Monday through Friday ritual started as 5am, at which time she started calling family and friends. In addition to her parents, (Romanda and Junebug) and her husband (Terrence) Yoki is survived by: four daughters, Shayla and Tia Smith, Tiarra Griffin and Shiasia Mitchell; two sons, Troy Smith and Tyler McCoy; one sister, Shanelle (Jamie) Elmore; one brother, Jamal Pinkston; one sister/cousin, Tamela Hutt; three granddaughters, Troi’Ani (Cuppie) Smith, Tori Smith and Harmony Mills; one soon-to-be granddaughter, Baby K (October 2020); one niece, Jamee Elmore; three nephews, Jorden Elmore and Terrell and Rhakim Pinkston; her mother-in-law and devoted caregiver, Veronica Burke; three brothers-in-law, Brandon (Devene) Hunt, Christopher Griffin, and Clarence (Trina) Giles; five aunts, Marguerite (Richard) Hutt, Vera (Gregory) Holden, Marsha and Frances Leatherbury and Diane Hutt; two uncles, Richard (Marguerite) Hutt and Jerry Hutt; three devoted friends, Tamika Jones, Trina Foster and Betty Anderson; one devoted cousin and caregiver, Faith Williams and a host of cousins, friends and great aunts. Yoki was preceded in death by one uncle, Lloyd (Anthony) Leatherbury; two aunts, Betty Ann Hutt and Rosalyn Leatherbury; one cousin, Terra Leatherbury, maternal grandparents, Lloyd and Marguerite Leatherbury and paternal grandparents, Elwood and Georgia Hutt. Yoki was loved by her family and friends and will be sadly missed. Lovingly Submitted ~ The Family

Yolanda "Yoki" Griffin (Hutt)

November 25, 1968 - July 20, 2020