WAYCROSS — Shirley Estelle Davis Griffin, 84, of Waycross, entered into Heaven peacefully on Saturday evening, May 9, 2026, at Hospice House of Satilla after an extended illness.
She was born in Ware County, February 3, 1942, to the late Annie and Noel L. Davis. She att ended Waycross schools and gradu ated from Waycross High School in 1959. She was a lifelong member of Whitehall Free Will Baptist
Griffin
Church. As a teenager, she and her sister, Virginia, accompanied on the piano by their mother, Annie, sang for many home going celebrations of life at various churches in the area providing many grieving families and congregations with comfort through songs.
In her early years, Mrs. Griffin worked at S.H. Kress as a salesclerk and at Reuben Brothers Shoe Factory in the accounting and payroll office. She later worked as Store Manager at Charlie Coleman's Sport Shop in Jacksonville, Fla., for 13 years until she retired in 1993.
She met the love of her life, Ray Griffin, at Waycross High in 1958 and they were married July 7, 1961. They moved to Jacksonville with Ray’s work at CSX Transportation in 1961. There they together made a home for their two sons, Jim and Terry.
Mrs. Griffin faithfully supported Ray and the boys through their many endeavors in life, whether it was through service at the PTA, booster fundraisers or on their various ball teams. She was a very giving person and always had a smile, along with kind words of encouragement, as well as the gift of giving compliments to whomever needed them at the time. She always put others first and was known for being a loving wife and mother, a great seamstress, her scrabble playing, and together with God beating cancer.
Upon retirement, she and Ray returned to Waycross, joining many family members and friends.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Griffin also was preceded in death by all of her siblings who included brothers C.J. Davis and N.L. Davis, Jr.; one sister, Virginia Davis Simpson; and favorite nephew, Frank Noel Davis.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Ray Griffin of Waycross; sons Jimmy Ray Griffin, Jr. (Cindy) of Arlington, Texas, and Terry Griffin of Waycross; nine grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; Louise Davis (sister-in-law), the Rev. Clayton Davis (cousin) of Waycross, Lois Griffin (sister- in-law) of Sarasota, Fla., Wayne Griffin (brother-in-law) of Sarasota, Joann Eunice (James) of Waycross (sister- in-law), Janelle Steedley (Jim) of Waycross (sister-in-law); numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; as well as a special lifelong friend, Barbara Jean Rouse of Waycross.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday, May 13) at Zion Hill Freewill Baptist Church in Millwood. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society, www.cancer. org and The National Kidney Foundation, www.kidney.org.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.milesodumfuneralhome. com
