Myrtis McGriff

Published 7:55 pm Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Services for Myrtis Pearl Dumas McGriff, 75, of Bainbridge, were held Saturday, Dec. 4, at Union Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. David Johnson officiating.

Interment was in Jonas Lobe Cemetery with Harvey Lee Breedlove, Allen Gaines, Toney Gaines, Donald Grimsley, Eddie Johnson and Kelvin Scott acting as pallbearers.

Mrs. McGriff was born July 3, 1935, in Bainbridge, Ga., and died Nov. 28, 2010. She graduated from Hutto High School Class of 1954, and from Fort Valley College with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1958. She began her teaching career in Seminole County Training School in Donalsonville and moved to Bainbridge to teach at West Bainbridge Elementary School following her marriage. She completed her 38 year teaching career at Bainbridge Middle School, retiring in 1996.

She was an active member of Union Missionary Baptist Church, working in various capacities, including being one of the founding members of the senior choir, mass choir and the Julia Mae Smiley Religious Women in Action. She also established the emergency college fund for students of the church.

Mrs. McGriff was involved in civic and professional organizations, including Club Allegro and Oak City Chapter #253 Order of Eastern Star, Georgia Association of Educators, National Educators Association, National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Epsilon Mu Chapter, Bainbridge-Decatur County Retired Teachers Association and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde McGriff, who died Feb., 22, 2010.

She is survived by her son, Russell Owen McGriff; loving cousins, step-siblings, and a host of other relatives and special friends.

Guyton Brothers Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.