Billy Joe Griffin, 87, of Brewton, died Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018, following a brief illness.
Mr. Griffin was a native of Fort Payne, Ala. and former resident of Bay Minette before moving to Brewton in 1962. Retired as administrator for D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital from 1962 until 1994, he was a retired colonel in the U.S. Army. He served in the Army Reserves and the Alabama National Guard and was recognized with the Meritorious Service Medal. A 1949 graduate of Baldwin County High School, he was later inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame. A member of the First Baptist Church of Brewton, he served on the board of the Brewton City School System for several years, was a long time member of the Brewton Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. Voted 'Citizen of the Year' in 1978, he was honored with the Gold Medal of Excellence by the Alabama Hospital Association, served on the Board of Trustees of Southern Normal High School, was a Baptist Health Care board member and served as a board member of Trustmark Bank. He had several hobbies, including woodworking.
The funeral was held at 3 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 30, at First Baptist Church of Brewton with Bro. John Finklea officiating. Burial, with military honors, followed at Bay Minette Cemetery with Bro. Jack Fitts officiating and Craver's Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Griffin is survived by one son, Chris (Robin) Griffin of Brewton; three daughters, Gwenda (Steve) Faulk of Brewton, Karen (Mark) Eastman of Austin, Texas and Sondra (Jimmy) Wacker of Mobile; eigth grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Mr. Griffin was preceded in death by his wife, Gwendolyn Watts Griffin; wife, Josephine “Jo” Griffin; his parents, Zollie Bruce and Inez Culpepper Griffin; two brothers, Leon Griffin and Denver Griffin; and three sisters, Imogene Miller, Iona Quinley and Ginger Merrill.
