Mrs. Ethel Griffin, 77, of Ocilla, Georgia, passed away on Saturday, February 15, 2020, at her residence.
Funeral services will be held 2 pm, Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at The Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Ocilla, with the Rev. George Carroll Paulk officiating. Interment will follow in Old Valley Grove Cemetery in Irwin County. The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 pm Tuesday evening at the funeral home in Ocilla.
Ethel was born on September 27, 1942, in Fitzgerald, Georgia, to the late Joe & Essie Branch Steverson. She was a graduate of Irwin County High School and earned her bookkeeping certificate from Ben Hill-Irwin Tech. In 1960, she married Herman, the love of her life, and they spent 59 years building a life together. Together they raised Cindy, Sandra, Andrew, and Julie and then celebrated their golden years with Justin and Jeffrey.
She spent time working in the lunchroom at Irwin County Elementary School and also worked in the garment industry at The Champion Company and Fitzgerald Underwear. She spent the latter part of her career managing quality control in the cutting room at Irwin Manufacturing. She was an active member of Cornerstone Baptist Church and she taught the Adult class in Vacation Bible School. She was also a devoted Sunday School teacher for many years in the Young Married Couples class, as well as the Youth Department.
Throughout her life, Ethel had many passions and hobbies. She enjoyed tending flowers and landscaping in her yard and had a particular love for orchids and daylilies. She also collected gems and stones and found joy in studying them. She took pride in managing her household and filled it with joy and laughter as two generations of children thrived in a home full of love. As the years went on, Ethel liked to play games, especially Yahtzee and Rummy, and she enjoyed many television shows including MacGyver, Stargate SG-1, and Swamp People. Ethel was a mother to all and spent many decades welcoming friends to the dining room table.
She is survived by her husband, Herman Griffin of Ocilla; children and their spouses: Cynthia & Lance Swearingen of Ocilla, Julie Griffin of Ocilla, Justin & Dana Griffin of Quitman, and Jeffrey Griffin of Reno, Nevada; grandchildren: Evan Griffin, Oliver Griffin, Sam Griffin, Paul Swearingen, April Swearingen, and Shelby Griffin; a brother, Kenny & Debbie Steverson of Fitzgerald; and a sister, Frances White of Ocilla. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Andrew Griffin; a daughter, Sandra Griffin; a brother, John Henry Steverson; and a sister, Christine Steverson.