Melvin Ray Griner, 74, of Tifton passed away Wednesday, December 9, 2015, at Tift Regional Medical Center. His funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 12, 2015, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with Rev. Terrell Roberts and Rev. Jackie Connell officiating. Mr. Griner will be laid to rest at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Berrien County. The family will receive friends Friday, December 11, 2015, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Henry Griner, Joe Griner, Austin Griner, Ricky Justice, Pernell Ellis and Robert Bernalles will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be members of VFW Post 5250 in Tifton.
Born August 22, 1941 in Nashville, Mr. Griner was the son of the late Willie Albert Griner and Mamie Luddell Gray Griner. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Louise Wiggins Griner; a step-son, Jimmy Douglas “Doug” Justice; and a brother, Henry Franklin Griner. He retired from the Georgia Department of Transportation after 34 years of service. He proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and later in the Georgia Army National Guard. Melvin was a proud member of local VFW Post 5250, where he served on the Bingo committee. Melvin loved going to bingo, where he met his very special friend and companion for the past 12 years, Lavonne Rowe. Melvin was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Berrien County and loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and rarely missed going to church.
Melvin is survived by a step-son and his wife, Bobby Dwayne and Kim Tawzer-Justice of Tifton; a brother and sister-in-law, Charles Dewey “Charlie” and Linda Griner of Berrien County; a sister, Patsy Louise Griner Hogan of Tifton; his very special friend and companion, Lavonne Rowe of Tifton; several nieces and nephews; and the children and spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Lavonne Rowe, who loved Ray-Ray as their own.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to VFW Post 5250, 410 Victory Drive North, Tifton, GA 31794; or Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, c/o Rev. Jackie Connell, 1008 22nd Street East, Tifton, GA 31794.