Earl Willis Griffith, Sr. passed away peacefully at home in Chattanooga, TN on November 7, 2019, after a brief battle with cancer. He was a long-time resident of Lexington, SC.
Earl was the third son of the late Wilson A. and Edna W. Griffith of Rochester, NY. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1947 and became a Senior NCO in 1952. He served sea duty on a destroyer during the Korean conflict. After a cruise around the world, he served as an NROTC instructor at Miami University in Oxford, OH. He married Frances Spell of Charleston, SC in 1951.
Earl earned his BA in Journalism from the University of South Carolina in 1959, and was a graduate of the Government Executives Institute, School of Business Admin at UNC. Later, he earned the Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI) from the USC Business School.
His professional career spanned the range of Public Service: 10 years in the Navy, reporter for The State newspaper, SC State Board of Health, Director of Education & Information for the SC Commission on Alcohol & Drug Abuse, Assistant Secretary for Alcohol & Drug Abuse (Governor’s Appointee) for the NC Department of Human Resources, Executive Director – SC Chapter of the American Diabetes Association, private consultant on Alcohol & Drug Abuse policy and training. His “retirement” career was as Owner/Broker of Earl W. Griffith Co. Realtors.
Earl’s volunteer Service could be a second career. Lions Club- He was a proud member of the Columbia (Downtown) Lions Club, serving as president. He was named “Lion of the Year” in 1995, chosen as a Melvin Jones Fellow. He also served as District Governor (32-D) and District Leo Governor. He helped organize the Columbia Aviation Leo Club. He sold brooms, lightbulbs and candy even organizing a series of golf tournaments to raise funds for the Lions. He and Fran attended international Lions Club conventions in Birmingham England, San Diego and Hawaii. Public Health & Safety – National Safety Council - Committee of 100, Board of Directors and Fellow - American Public Health Association. Lifetime Member, President and Board of Directors – SC Public Health Association. He was on the faculty and board of numerous Schools of Alcohol and Drug Studies in several states.
Earl loved Lake Murray and Lexington, after leasing a lot at Turner’s Landing in the early 60’s with three other families – the “Crazy 8” as they were known. He lived on the lake until moving with family to Chattanooga in 2017. He enjoyed friends and family, boating, golf, bowling, reading, volunteering and travel. He will be missed by many.
Earl was the third son of the late Wilson A. and Edna W. Griffith of Rochester, NY. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1947 and became a Senior NCO in 1952. He served sea duty on a destroyer during the Korean conflict. After a cruise around the world, he served as an NROTC instructor at Miami University in Oxford, OH. He married Frances Spell of Charleston, SC in 1951.
Earl earned his BA in Journalism from the University of South Carolina in 1959, and was a graduate of the Government Executives Institute, School of Business Admin at UNC. Later, he earned the Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI) from the USC Business School.
His professional career spanned the range of Public Service: 10 years in the Navy, reporter for The State newspaper, SC State Board of Health, Director of Education & Information for the SC Commission on Alcohol & Drug Abuse, Assistant Secretary for Alcohol & Drug Abuse (Governor’s Appointee) for the NC Department of Human Resources, Executive Director – SC Chapter of the American Diabetes Association, private consultant on Alcohol & Drug Abuse policy and training. His “retirement” career was as Owner/Broker of Earl W. Griffith Co. Realtors.
Earl’s volunteer Service could be a second career. Lions Club- He was a proud member of the Columbia (Downtown) Lions Club, serving as president. He was named “Lion of the Year” in 1995, chosen as a Melvin Jones Fellow. He also served as District Governor (32-D) and District Leo Governor. He helped organize the Columbia Aviation Leo Club. He sold brooms, lightbulbs and candy even organizing a series of golf tournaments to raise funds for the Lions. He and Fran attended international Lions Club conventions in Birmingham England, San Diego and Hawaii. Public Health & Safety – National Safety Council - Committee of 100, Board of Directors and Fellow - American Public Health Association. Lifetime Member, President and Board of Directors – SC Public Health Association. He was on the faculty and board of numerous Schools of Alcohol and Drug Studies in several states.
Earl loved Lake Murray and Lexington, after leasing a lot at Turner’s Landing in the early 60’s with three other families – the “Crazy 8” as they were known. He lived on the lake until moving with family to Chattanooga in 2017. He enjoyed friends and family, boating, golf, bowling, reading, volunteering and travel. He will be missed by many.
Earl Willis Griffith, Sr. passed away peacefully at home in Chattanooga, TN on November 7, 2019, after a brief battle with cancer. He was a long-time resident of Lexington, SC.
Earl was the third son of the late Wilson A. and Edna W. Griffith of Rochester, NY. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1947 and became a Senior NCO in 1952. He served sea duty on a destroyer during the Korean conflict. After a cruise around the world, he served as an NROTC instructor at Miami University in Oxford, OH. He married Frances Spell of Charleston, SC in 1951.
Earl earned his BA in Journalism from the University of South Carolina in 1959, and was a graduate of the Government Executives Institute, School of Business Admin at UNC. Later, he earned the Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI) from the USC Business School.
His professional career spanned the range of Public Service: 10 years in the Navy, reporter for The State newspaper, SC State Board of Health, Director of Education & Information for the SC Commission on Alcohol & Drug Abuse, Assistant Secretary for Alcohol & Drug Abuse (Governor’s Appointee) for the NC Department of Human Resources, Executive Director – SC Chapter of the American Diabetes Association, private consultant on Alcohol & Drug Abuse policy and training. His “retirement” career was as Owner/Broker of Earl W. Griffith Co. Realtors.
Earl’s volunteer Service could be a second career. Lions Club- He was a proud member of the Columbia (Downtown) Lions Club, serving as president. He was named “Lion of the Year” in 1995, chosen as a Melvin Jones Fellow. He also served as District Governor (32-D) and District Leo Governor. He helped organize the Columbia Aviation Leo Club. He sold brooms, lightbulbs and candy even organizing a series of golf tournaments to raise funds for the Lions. He and Fran attended international Lions Club conventions in Birmingham England, San Diego and Hawaii. Public Health & Safety – National Safety Council - Committee of 100, Board of Directors and Fellow - American Public Health Association. Lifetime Member, President and Board of Directors – SC Public Health Association. He was on the faculty and board of numerous Schools of Alcohol and Drug Studies in several states.
Earl loved Lake Murray and Lexington, after leasing a lot at Turner’s Landing in the early 60’s with three other families – the “Crazy 8” as they were known. He lived on the lake until moving with family to Chattanooga in 2017. He enjoyed friends and family, boating, golf, bowling, reading, volunteering and travel. He will be missed by many.
Earl was the third son of the late Wilson A. and Edna W. Griffith of Rochester, NY. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1947 and became a Senior NCO in 1952. He served sea duty on a destroyer during the Korean conflict. After a cruise around the world, he served as an NROTC instructor at Miami University in Oxford, OH. He married Frances Spell of Charleston, SC in 1951.
Earl earned his BA in Journalism from the University of South Carolina in 1959, and was a graduate of the Government Executives Institute, School of Business Admin at UNC. Later, he earned the Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI) from the USC Business School.
His professional career spanned the range of Public Service: 10 years in the Navy, reporter for The State newspaper, SC State Board of Health, Director of Education & Information for the SC Commission on Alcohol & Drug Abuse, Assistant Secretary for Alcohol & Drug Abuse (Governor’s Appointee) for the NC Department of Human Resources, Executive Director – SC Chapter of the American Diabetes Association, private consultant on Alcohol & Drug Abuse policy and training. His “retirement” career was as Owner/Broker of Earl W. Griffith Co. Realtors.
Earl’s volunteer Service could be a second career. Lions Club- He was a proud member of the Columbia (Downtown) Lions Club, serving as president. He was named “Lion of the Year” in 1995, chosen as a Melvin Jones Fellow. He also served as District Governor (32-D) and District Leo Governor. He helped organize the Columbia Aviation Leo Club. He sold brooms, lightbulbs and candy even organizing a series of golf tournaments to raise funds for the Lions. He and Fran attended international Lions Club conventions in Birmingham England, San Diego and Hawaii. Public Health & Safety – National Safety Council - Committee of 100, Board of Directors and Fellow - American Public Health Association. Lifetime Member, President and Board of Directors – SC Public Health Association. He was on the faculty and board of numerous Schools of Alcohol and Drug Studies in several states.
Earl loved Lake Murray and Lexington, after leasing a lot at Turner’s Landing in the early 60’s with three other families – the “Crazy 8” as they were known. He lived on the lake until moving with family to Chattanooga in 2017. He enjoyed friends and family, boating, golf, bowling, reading, volunteering and travel. He will be missed by many.
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