John Arthur McGriff Sr.

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John Arthur McGriff Sr., 82, widower of Bessie Mallett McGriff, died Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, at Carolinas Hospital System in Florence.

 

Born April 1, 1931, in Havana, Fla., he was a son of the late Johnnie and Arthur Lee Davis McGriff. He attended Lincoln High School in Sumter and Sumter Area Technical College. He obtained a degree in air conditioning and electrician technology. After completing high school, he joined the U.S. Navy and retired in 1970 as a quarter-master, second class. He was a member of Providence AME Church, where he sang with the choir and was a member of the Board of Trustees. He later moved his membership to Providence Christian Church, where he served on the Board of Deacons and the Finance Committee. He was a member of Brotherly Love Lodge No. 99 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

 

Survivors include four children, Althea McGriff, Gwendolyn (Kenneth) Sheriod, John A. (Dianne) McGriff Jr. and Lynn Beryl McGriff; a sister-in-law, Ida B. McCullough; a brother-in-law, Willliam (Ruth) Malett; and three grandchildren, Brionni, Chelsey and John McGriff III.

 

Masonic Rites were held Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014, at the Hayes F. & LaNelle J. Samuels Sr. Memorial Chapel, 114 N. Church St. in Manning.

 

Celebratory services were held Friday, Feb. 14, 2014, at Providence Christian Church, Dozier-Mallett Road in  Manning, with the Rev. Dr. Bennie Colclough, pastor, officiating. Burial followed in the churchyard cemetery.

 

The family received friends at the home, 2061 Bloomville Road in Manning.

 

These services were entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.