Doris Marie Griffin

Doris Griffin was born on August 16, 1928 in Victoria, Texas. She received her basic education through the Victoria I.S.D. She was a graduate of F.W. Gross High School where not only did she receive high academic achievements among her peers but also displayed great talent in the Girl's competitive sports programs particularly in the field of basketball and baseball; the latter later earning her the nickname of “Miss Don Newcombe”. Doris was also noted for her striking beauty and outstanding performances as majorette and drum major of the F. W. Gross High marching band. As a young beautiful maiden she met and married Rufus Green and of that union God gifted her with the two constant “loves” in her life…..the two sons born eleven months and two weeks apart….Rufus Green Jr and Bobby Lee Green (aka....Jr & Bubbie). Doris confessed and accepted Christ into her life at a very early age while growing up in Victoria and remained a devoted Christian and follower of our Lord and his teachings throughout her life until her death. Prior to moving to Dallas several years ago, Doris was an active member at St. Matthew Baptist Church, serving in the Ladies Missionary circles and on the Usher Board. Doris moved to Corpus Christi some 65yrs ago after becoming a single mom and faced with limited to nil chances for professional growth and opportunities to provide a better life for her and her two boys. She refused to accept the role of dead end domestic help jobs Victoria had to offer “women of color” during that era as the assigned occupation/profession for her. During her first several years while living in Corpus Christi, she met and married her second husband, Hardy Griffin and that union lasted until his untimely death in 1973. After Del Mar rescinded it’s segregation policy and begin to allow AA female students into it’s License Vocation Nursing Program, Doris found herself at the Register’s office; applied and was accepted into one of the initial classes accepting black female students. After successfully graduating from it’s program, Doris worked at both Spohn and Memorial hospital in the OB, L&D and medical units.  However, it wasn’t until her employment with the old privately, individually owned Lynnhaven NH did she find her nursing nitch……she loved geriatic nursing care. She spent approximately 30yrs working for that facility in numerous nursing positions but never getting too far away from personal nursing hands on patient care. Thoughout  those years she made positive impacts on the lives of her many patients; their families and all those apart of the facility’s staff. She enjoyed and loved her life’s profession as a nurse and always strived to be a role model for her coworkers. Unfortunately Ms. Griffin had to spend that last several years of her life away from her beloved “sparkling city by the sea” to live in the Dallas area and under the medical advisorship of her son, Rufus Green, M.D. Ms. Griffin is proceeded in death by her two husbands, Rufus Green, Sr. and Hardy Griffin; her mother, Roberta Foster; siblings Olivera Woods, Charlene Cook, Bobbie Hackett, Charles Foster and Wallace Foster. Left to cherish her wonderful and loving memories are her two sons; Rufus Green M.D. (Bernadetta) of Dallas, TX and Bobby Green, R.N. (Janice) of  San Antonio, TX. Four grandchildren; Joel (Kelly), Geoffrey*, Rylee and Remington.  Four great granddaughters; Madi, Marli, Macy and Christina. Four sister-in-laws; Ester Green-Moore of Corpus Christi, TX; Johnnie Lee Foster of Sacramento, CA;  Elouise Green-Griffin of Oakland, CA and Glorietta Strait-Foster of Victoria, TX.  Aunt Doris leaves many special nieces and nephews all of them she truly loved and cared for; along with many cousins and friends. Special acknowledgement given to Doris’s BFF since early school years and fellow nursing peer, Ms. Francis Mumphford-Mays, Victoria, Texas. *Special prayers for grandson Geoffrey Green, US Navy currently on deployment and unable to be with us in celebrating the Homegoing of his precious grandmother. **Rufus and I would like to give a special recognition and a heartfelt thanks to the Rev. Troy Bell and wife Glenda and our Aunt Ester for providing such wonderful care and assistance to our Mom during her last years living at home in helping her maintain her independence as long as she possibly  could. Your unselfish love and concern was greatly appreciated by both of us and will never be forgotten. Thank you again and may God Bless you always. Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 10, 2013 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Memory Gardens Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 11, 2013 at 12:00 noon at St. Matthew Baptist Church, 1101 Waco, with interment to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.