In Loving Memory

Douglas Griffin

Douglas Griffin

Harold Douglas Griffin died at age 94 on Easter Sunday morning, April 17th,  at his home in Ringgold, GA.  

He was born at home in Plantersville, MS on September 5, 1927, and grew up on his family’s farm with his dog and his slingshot.  He played basketball and football in high school and was granted a football scholarship to Auburn University where he declined to play saying the campus was “too big for him.”

A WWII veteran, Doug served in Korea before graduating from Mississippi State with a B.S. in Vocational Agriculture and from Tennessee Temple Theological Seminary with an M.R.E.  Doug and his wife Betty served as missionaries with Trans World Radio from 1958 to 1970. They first served in Tangier, Morocco and later in Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles where Doug enjoyed working with the nationals in the construction of the transmitter buildings and spearfishing in his free time.  They returned to Chattanooga and Doug taught and worked at Tennessee Temple University and taught Sunday School and served as an usher and deacon at Highland Park Baptist Church for many years.  Doug enjoyed working with his hands in construction and served others often with his many skills.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Betty Jane Sapp Griffin.  Doug is survived by his four children, Dixie Griffin Mathews (Doug), Stephen Harold Griffin (Glory), Jonathan Douglas Griffin (Alayne), and Naomi Griffin Self (Eric), eleven grandchildren, David (Ashley) Mathews, LeeAnn Mathews, Elisabeth Mathews, Daniel Mathews, Michael Griffin, Jana Griffin, Bethany (Jamie) Sexton, Alyssa Griffin, Lucy Self, Sophie Self, Griffin Self, and four great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by his brother, Robert D. Griffin of Nettleton, MS and several nieces and nephews.