DALLAS - Christian Keith Griffith, 41, died Monday, Feb. 6, 2006.

 

A memorial service to celebrate Christian's life will be at noon Saturday in Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home Northwest Highway Chapel.

 

Christian Keith Griffith was born Jan. 22, 1965, on a cold snowy day to Roger and Elwanda Griffith in Amarillo. Christian always enjoyed cold weather. Christian passed into a spiritual awakening on Feb. 6, 2006. Music was his life. Christian was assistant organist of First Presbyterian Church in Amarillo at 14 years of age and Outstanding Boy in the ninth grade in the Austin Junior High School Band. Additional recognition came in the form of Who's Who among American High School Students and the award of a Nordan Music Scholarship to attend Texas Christian University, majoring in organ performance.

 

Education extended into graduate studies at Southern Methodist University and Westminster Choir College where he was named university organist at Princeton University Chapel. Study continued in 2000 and 2001 at Cours D'Interpretation de Romainmotier, Switzerland, with Marie-Claire Alain, Guy Bovet and Rodulf Lutz. Master Classes were also attended at Kings College, England.

 

Christian was an avid traveler and toured the British Isles and the European mainland on numerous occasions. His work experience included Assistant Organist/Handbell Director at University Christian Church in Fort Worth, Organist/Director of Handbells at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth, Organist at Plymouth Park United Methodist Church in Irving, Director of Music and organist for 12 years at Central Christian Church in Dallas, organist at Temple Emanu-El in Dallas and organist at Third Church of Christ, Scientist in Dallas. The family wishes to recognize all of the extended members of the Griffith/Hollars and Smith/Spraberry families that have been so supportive of Christian over these 41 years. The family also wishes to recognize a host of outstanding friends and sponsors over the years. There are too many to list in this short space. A special thank you to the members of the Third Church of Christ, Scientist of Dallas for your humanity and support of Christian. Christian loved all of his friends and family as only he could love fellow members of this earth. He embodied the best that humans can be and God loves those that love others above themselves.

 

Survivors include his parents, Roger and Elwanda Griffith of Carrollton; a grandfather, Loren Griffith, uncle, Charles Smith, aunt, Janice Smith, cousin, David Smith and wife Beth and daughter Emma, all of Amarillo.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to The Leaves Inc., 1230 W. Spring Valley Road, Richardson, TX 75080 or the Pipe Organ Fund, Third Church of Christ, Scientist, 4419 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas, TX 75219.

 

Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 9, 2006