Meredith College Mourns Loss of Trustee Emeritus George Griffin

The Meredith College community mourns the loss of George W. Griffin, of Havelock, N.C., who passed away on May 21, 2020, at age 93. Griffin was a member of the Meredith College Board of Trustees beginning in 1986. He served six non-consecutive terms and received Trustee Emeritus status in 2014.

As noted in his published obituary, Griffin helped to incorporate Havelock as a town and served as its first mayor from 1959-64, serving again as mayor from 1998-2004. He worked his way up from a GS3 clerk typist to become the first GS15 on the Marine Corps Air Station-Cherry Point Civil Service.

In addition to his service to Meredith, he was treasurer of the Atlantic Baptist Association for 20 years, served on the boards of Craven County Hospital and the United Way, and was a 60-year member of the Havelock Civitans. He received awards for Outstanding Service from the Naval Air Rework Facility at MCAS for his work from 1962-1982, a Distinguished Service award from the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and received The Order of the Longleaf Pine in honor of his volunteer service.

Griffin is survived by his daughters Georgia Griffin Lucas and Lovey Deane “Deanie” Cocran, a Meredith alumna from the Class of 1984, and her husband, Tim, son, George William “Billy” Griffin, Jr., five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Jewell Mae Braxton Griffin and his parents, George and Dora Griffin. Griffin was the last of his generation among his 23 siblings who preceded him in death.

A visitation service was held on May 24, and a celebration of life will be held at a later date. More information is available at the Munden Funeral Home site.