Jean Griffin

Jean Edney Griffin died Sunday, February 4, 2018, in Martin, Tennessee, just two months shy of her 88th birthday. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 63 years, Harley H. Griffin, Jr.

Jean was born April 8, 1930, in McEwen, Tennessee, to James Newell and Abbie Fields Edney. She was the youngest of five, having three brothers, James, Phil, and John Edney, and one sister, her lifelong best friend and co-conspirator, Thelma White Burton. Jean was a graduate of Martin High School where she played varsity basketball. She met Harley when she was still a teenager and after he served in World War II. They were married in Martin in September of 1951 and started married life in a small duplex on Oxford Street where legend has it they could see bare ground between the cracks in the floorboards. Soon after, they built their forever home on McCombs Street, where they raised Eric and Lari, and where Jean lived until 2015.

Jean worked outside the home most of her life and thoroughly enjoyed it. She started at the Wholesale House working for Mr. Farmer when she was still in high school, worked alongside Thelma at the Martin Bank, and spent years in various jobs at UTM. She especially enjoyed her time in catering services at UTM where she oversaw, encouraged, scolded and advised countless student workers. When she retired from UTM, Griff and Jean bought a cottage at Kentucky Lake and a pontoon boat named Jean’s Retirement, and she loved entertaining many friends and family there. But, she also spoke fondly of the good times she and Harley had just sitting out on their deck, listening to Tennessee women’s basketball on the radio.

Jean was very social and enjoyed afternoons with her bridge club and evenings at the VFW. She served in many capacities with The First Baptist Church of Martin as well. Jean was always fun to be with because she was interested in the people and events around her, be it a young person’s degree plan, Martin politics or the goings on in Washington! Jean was smart and strong-minded -- always happy to trade opinions! But she also had that rare and wonderful quality of not taking things too seriously and being able to laugh at herself. One of Jean’s most admirable characteristics was her determination and attitude – she was always positive that she would get it done, get through it or at least find the bright side of it, whatever “it” was.

More than anything else, though, Jean loved her family and considered them her life’s most precious gift. She was always Harley’s greatest admirer and most loyal companion. She loved Eric and Lari with all her heart; she enjoyed their company and was proud of the good people they became, which was due in large part to her steady hand and loyal support. Jean was also a devoted grandmother to all four of her grandchildren, but one of her greatest joys was being able to be close by to help care for Karlie and Kyle when they were young.

Jean is survived by her son, Eric (Stacey) Griffin of New Braunfels, Texas; her daughter, Lari (Dale) Doyle of Martin; grandchildren Ryann Elizabeth Griffin, John Riley Griffin II, Kyle Griffin Doyle, Karlie Paige Doyle and fiancé Brendon Maitland; niece, Jessie White (Steve) Ross and nephew, Sam (Vicki) White. She was beloved and will be dearly missed by them all.

The family would like to thank the staff of Diversicare Martin and Greenbrier Meadows for the kind & loving care they shared with Jean.