Brigadier General (USANG Retired) Stacey Griffin died on July 9, 2014 in McLeod Regional Medical Center Florence, Florence, SC.
Born March 13, 1928 in Marion County he was the son of the late Rosa Willoughby and Fred Griffin. He attended Hamer – Kentyre School and East Elementary School and was an honor graduate of Dillon High School class of 1946-47. While a student at Dillon High, he was Vice- President of the Junior Class, the Hi-Life Staff (school newspaper), Wilcat Staff (Annual), Jr. and Sr. superlatives, Jr. and Sr. plays, Captain of the 1946 winning football team and 1945-46-47 baseball teams. He was selected to play in the Shrine Bowl in Charlotte, NC in 1946 and played on the American Legion baseball team in Florence in 1945. Although the recipient of football and baseball scholarships to the University of South Carolina, University of North Carolina, and N.C. State, he chose to accept a contract to play professional baseball with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. Upon returning to Dillon, he played baseball with the Border Belt League 1947-1951.
Stacey retired in 1990 as Line Service Supervisor with Carolina Power & Light Company with 40 years of service and was a member of the Pioneer Club. A member of First Baptist Church, Dillon since 1953 he served as Deacon, President of the Brotherhood, member of the Finance Committee, Building and Grounds Committee, and a member of the Ervin Coward Sunday School Class.
Stacey was an active member of the community as a volunteer for Helping Hands at St. Eugene Hospital, Vice-President of the Lions Club, former member of the Kiwanis Club, Twin Lakes Country Club, and the Democratic Party.
In 1988 he was selected by Governor Carroll Campbell to represent the 4th Judicial Circuit on the State Development Board and was instrumental in obtaining Perdue for Dillon County. He was honored in 2004 when a portion of Highway 301 North was named “The Stacey Griffin Highway” in recognition of his many years of service to Dillon County. Stacey served as Chairman of the Dillon County Transportation Committee since 1994.
General Griffin joined the South Carolina National Guard December 1, 1950 serving as Commander of Company B., 263rd Armor BN, Dillon; Battalion Commander (Dillon, Mullins, Marion, Myrtle Beach) and State Training Officer, Columbia, SC. He was selected as a charter member of the South Carolina Hall of Fame, and his portrait hangs in the General McGrady Headquarters Building, Ft. Jackson, SC. He was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. General Griffin retired in 1983 after 33 ½ years, having been awarded the U.S. Army Commendation Medal, Guardsman’s Retirement Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and Army Reserve Component’s Medal. In 1977 he was elected as one of three Lt. Colonels and 16 Generals flown to Germany to study terrain which would be defended by American forces from a possible Russian attack. He was extremely proud of the men and women who served with him and their many accomplishments.
General Griffin is survived by his wife, Sylvia Scott Griffin of 62 years (November 23, 1951) and sons, Stacey Scott “Scotty” and Tracey Cain Griffin of Columbia, SC; sister, Flora Lee Smith, Florence, SC; nephews Mitchell Griffin, Hamer, SC; Bill Allison, Summerville, SC; Craig Smith, Lake City, SC; Harry Corder, Alhambia, Calif.; Phillip Inman, Fayetteville, NC; Ray Inman, Fairfax, VA; Bill Inman, Dallas, TX; nieces Charlene Miller, Hamer, SC; Sharon Smith, Florence, SC; Annette C. Davis, Kathy C. Bailey, Debbie C. Hilton; Jeanna I. Griffith, Houston, TX. He was predeceased by his brother and sister-in-law, Floyd and Margie Griffin.
Services will be held at First Baptist Church, 400 N. 4th Ave., Dillon, SC on Saturday, July 12, 2014 at 3:00 o’clock with burial in Greenlawn Cemetery, Highway 57 South, Dillon conducted by Kannaday Funeral Home. Visitation will be Friday, July 11, 2014 from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. at the Funeral Home and at other times at the home, 307 Lee Circle, Dillon.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 400 North 4th Ave., Dillon, SC 29536, Dillon Camp Gideons, P.O. Box 111, Dillon, SC 29536, the Stacey Griffin USC Athletic Scholarship to a Dillon High School graduate attending the University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, c/o Dillon High School, 1730 Highway 301 North, Dillon, SC 29536.
You may sign the online guestbook at www.kannadayfuneralhome.com.
