Alma Griffin

Alma Mae (Garner) Griffin, a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, was born on February 8, 1927, to Andrew and Carrie (Carter) Garner in the rolling hills of Blount County, Tennessee. She was the heartbeat of her family, the melody in their laughter, the prayer in their mornings. In 1944, she took the hand of her beloved, Elmer P. Griffin, and together they built a life rich in faith, family, and deep, abiding love — a love that carried them through 67 beautiful years until Elmer’s passing in 2011.

On April 18, 2025, at the tender age of 98, Alma quietly and peacefully answered the Lord’s call, slipping away into His eternal embrace. We take comfort in knowing she is now joyfully reunited with her beloved Elmer; her treasured youngest son, Donald Griffin (2025); her adored son-in-law, Larry L. Jones, Sr. (2013); her dear daughter-in-law, Patricia Griffin (2022); her revered parents, Andrew Sr. (1960) and Carrie (1953); and her cherished eleven siblings who preceded her in death, listed by birth order: Homer (2002), Beatrice (2015), Andrew (1977), Louise (1978), Henryetta (2009), Cecil (1981), Charles (2002), JC “Buddy” (2001), Herman (1986), Naffell Lee (1935, at just six months old), and Helen (1924, died at birth), each one waiting to welcome her home with open arms.

Alma lived her faith boldly and joyfully. Alma’s life was a shining testimony to the power of faith, family, and love. She was a pillar of Tabernacle Baptist Church for over 70 years – a builder not only of walls, but of spirit, of worship, of community. In her personal belongings, she has copies of almost every church anniversary program.  She was a woman whose prayers helped lay the very foundation where generations now worship. She gave her heart fully to every ministry she touched — and did so with grace, dignity, and, always, dazzling style. In every pew, at every gathering, her presence was a beacon: radiant, regal, and always adorned in the finest of attire, a reflection of the beauty she carried within.

Wherever Alma went — whether traveling across the country to visit family or simply walking around the corner to greet a neighbor — she carried the light of Christ within her. She never met a stranger. Alma spoke her mind with honesty and wit and loved with a depth that left a lasting imprint on every life she touched.

through some of the most pivotal moments in U.S. history. She witnessed the Civil Rights Movement, watched her children integrate public schools, and lived to see a day when she could cast her votes freely — witnessing the election of the first African-American President, Barack Obama, and later, the first African-American, first Asian-American, and first woman Vice President, Kamala Harris.

Alma didn’t just witness history; she made history. In 1945, she and her family became one of the first Black families to integrate East Knoxville when they purchased their home on Selma Avenue. Their courage and determination helped open doors for future generations.

Her life was a testament to faith, perseverance, and unconditional love — a legacy that will continue to inspire all who knew her. Her spirit was unshakable. Her voice was sure. She spoke truth wrapped in love, and her hands, worn with the years of caring for others, were never too tired to offer a touch of kindness or a tender embrace. Alma loved people — her family most of all — and they loved her fiercely in return.

To know Alma was to be blessed by her kindness, strength, laughter, and unshakable faith. Her legacy lives on through her daughter, Jacqueline G. Jones; her son, Eugene Griffin; her treasured grandchildren, Eugenia (Randall) Taylor, Yolanda Smith, George Griffin, Hon. Stephanie Jones, and Larry (Christy) Jones, Jr.; her eight great-grandchildren; her great-great-grandchild; countless nieces, nephews, and extended family members; and her beloved Tabernacle Baptist Church family.

A celebration of Alma’s remarkable life will be held on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at Tabernacle Baptist Church. The family will receive visitors from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by a homegoing service beginning promptly at 12:30 p.m. (Alma always preferred things to start on time and not run too long!) She will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband at Sherwood Memorial Mausoleum at 3:00 p.m. Those wishing to honor Alma’s memory may send flowers to Jarnigan & Son’s Mortuary, 2823 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37914.  In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to the Pat Summitt Foundation, supporting Alzheimer’s research, education, and caregiver support — a cause that touched Alma’s family personally.

The family also encourages everyone to take a few moments for their own health by completing the Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam (SAGE), a simple tool to detect early signs of cognitive decline: 

https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/brain-spine-neuro/memory-disorders/sage/download-the-sage-test. Black Americans are twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s or other dementia as older whites and almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women. One in 3 older Americans dies with Alzheimer's or another dementia. It kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.  (See www.alz.org).

Knowledge is power, and early detection can be a gift to you and your loved ones.

Special thanks are extended to the compassionate caregivers at Legacy Park Health and Rehabilitation, Kyra at Elder Law Care Law of Tennessee, Pastor Charles Lomax of St. John Missionary Baptist Church, the devoted staff at Jarnigan & Son Mortuary, Pastor Vincent Jones, Jr., and Alma’s entire Tabernacle Baptist Church family for their kindness, prayers, and love.

In Spanish, “Alma” means soul — and that is what she was to all of us:

The soul of her family.