Obituary of Norman Griffin

CAYCE—Funeral services for Norman Elbert Griffin, 87, of Cayce, will be held at 7 p.m. July 15, 2011 in the Chapel of Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia. Officiating will be Dr. Tommy Pillow and Rev. Rodolph Dixon. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home before the service. Burial will follow in Oaknoll Memorial Gardens, 2549 Shorter Avenue, Rome, GA 30165 on Sunday, July 17, 2011 at 2 p.m. Pallbearers will be his grandsons and nephews and members of his Felton, GA 1950's Little League Baseball team. Mr. Griffin, passed away on Wednesday, July 13, 2011. Born in Felton, GA, he was the son of the late Freddie Dawson Griffin and Nervie Addison Griffin. He graduated from Buchanan High School in GA in 1940 and was a Veteran of WWII. He served as a Tech Sergeant in the US Army Air Force, flew 35 combat missions as a radio operator and aerial gunner with the B-24 Heavy Bombers, 15th Air Force in Italy. He was a member of State Street Baptist Church and the Fellowship Sunday School Class. After 43 years of service, he retired as Train Master from Norfolk Southern Railway Corp in 1984. He was a member for over 60 years of the F. & A.M. Caledonia Masonic Lodge No. 121 and R.A.M. Adoniram Lodge No. 41 in Cedartown, GA. He was also a member of the Cayce-West Columbia Lions Club for 20 years. Surviving are his wife of 59 years, LaJean Griffin; son Scott Griffin (Wendy) and daughter Ann Griffin Derrick (Mike); grandsons Nathan Griffin, Trey Derrick and Travis Derrick; brothers Marvin Griffin and Charles Griffin; sister Willie-Katherine Bentley. He was preceded in death by his infant daughters Debra and Susan, brothers Gerald Griffin, Billy Griffin and Johnny Griffin; sisters Ethel Griffin, Gladys Griffin Tubbs and Frances Griffin Schrieber. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Jimmy Quinn Scholarship Fund, State Street Baptist Church, 1420 State Street, Cayce, SC 29033; Bethlehem Baptist Church, Felton, GA, Cemetery and Flower Fund, c/o Buchanan Flower Shop, 154 Tallapoosa Street, Buchanan, GA 30113 or charity of one's choice.