Zelma Olene Griffis

Zelma Griffis, 84, of Nacogdoches passed away Tuesday, February 8, 2011, at Stallings Court Nursing Home. She was born September 19, 1926, in San Augustine, Texas, as one of seven children to M.C. and Ida Cloud Perry. Mrs. Griffis graduated in 1943 from San Augustine High School.

She was a dedicated wife and mother and loved her family. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and was the “Sunshine Ladies” Sunday School teacher. Mrs. Griffis was the secretary for Nettie Marshall Elementary School for 15 years. She loved quilting, sewing, crocheting and baking.

Survivors: son, Johnny Griffis and wife Karen of Signal Mountain, Tennessee; three daughters, Marilyn Hawthorne and husband Gary of Nacogdoches, Sheryl Rawls and husband Ron of Lufkin, and Marjie Hughes and husband Dylan of Nacogdoches; seven grandchildren, Bonita Connally and husband Corley of Signal Mountain, James Griffis and wife Angie of Dallas, Becky Calvin and husband Perry of Frost, Jason Hawthorne of Nacogdoches, Andy Hawthorne and wife Celina of Lufkin, Michael Rawls and wife Mallori of Lufkin, and Rhonda Rawls of Lufkin; and four great-grandchildren, Sarah Connally, Brett Connally, Wyatt Calvin, and Preston Calvin.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James “Griff” Griffis and all her siblings.

Pallbearers will be James Griffis, Jason Hawthorne, Andy Hawthorne, Michael Rawls, Patrick Kerr, and Lee Perry.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, February 12, 2011, at 2:00 pm at Cason Monk-Metcalf Sunset Chapel. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Visitation will be Friday, February 11, 2011, from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Cason Monk-Metcalf.

Condolences may be made to casonmonk-metcalf.com.

Zelma Griffis Story

My mama had the hands and heart of Jesus. As the only daughter at home on a farm, Mama saw her mother minister daily…washing clothes in a wash pot, canning vegetables, churning, quilting, and feeding all who needed it. Mama learned to do the same. She also watched her Poppa rise before the sun, light the wood stove, feed the animals, and eats breakfast quickly so he could be in the fields by sun-up. My mama learned about love, care, sacrifice and Jesus from parents who gave all they had to raise seven children.

From as early as I can remember, Mama was Jesus’ hands to us. She made dozens of quilts to bundle us up in when temperatures dropped. She sewed hundreds of dresses for three daughters to sashay about in. She baked thousands of biscuits, pies, and banana puddings. And, she made millions of tea cakes! She calmed tummies with homemade soup, feverish brows with cool cloths and Vicks, and stayed up late too many nights to count, encouraging an aimless child to finish a school project.

I watched her pour out love and care for others as well. She opened her heart and later her home to her husband’s parents. She did all the same things for them that she did for us, including getting a job to help provide for their needs. She honored them and cared for them all the way to the grave. Then, she made a place in her home for her sweet, dear brother, Ray. Ray needed love and care, and she needed to give it.

Mama’s servant’s heart compelled her to encourage others. She taught the Sunshine Ladies Sunday school Class for many years, the last age class on the way to heaven. She called, visited, and took food to everyone she could think of. She gave away tea cakes to anyone who needed a kindness or whose heart was broken. And, she crocheted family names for half of Texas. All of this until she couldn’t remember where her Bible was, or how to measure the recipe, or how to count stitches anymore. And, then she spent her last years deep in Alzheimer’s constantly asking…”What should I do now?”

I saw Jesus in my mama’s heart. I felt Him in her hands. I heard Him in her prayers. She prayed unceasingly about every need and desire of her heart. She prayed for her family and all that she knew. And, she taught me to do the same.

And, now I realize, that Mama was only here on loan. God shared her with us and must have missed her terribly, though she talked to Him daily. Now, she is with Him and we will do the missing. All of our lives Mama have taught us about sacrifice and now the sacrifice is ours. We have given up something precious to us for the need of Someone else. Mama has been on a journey all of her life to see Jesus, and today she is… safely home.

Praise God for His infinite mercy and wondrous love. To God alone be the glory.