Reverend John R. Griffeth Junior

John was born in Athens, Georgia on May 12, 1936. Precocious and independent, he spent many childhood hours exploring and fishing, hobbies that would lead him to the teenage adventure on the Oconee River that would change the course of John’s life, John recounted that, as he was walking along the riverbank, high above the water, his foot slipped. Someone reached out a hand to grip him, giving him purchase against falling and likely saving his life. As he climbed back up to the top of the bank, he found there was no one present to thank. John later said that he knew that God had rescued him because he had not trusted in Christ as his savior at that time. This was the first time that John felt the presence of the Lord’s guiding hand in his life.

Later in his teen years, while performing a magic act, John was smitten when he met Janice Whitley. He was determined that this beautiful lady would be his wife, John’s persistence paid off, and they married in 1957.

John’s love of exploring led to traveling opportunities when he and Janice were newlyweds. One photo favorite for the family chronicled their trip to Tijuana, Mexico, snapshotting Janice as she perched atop a zebra-striped donkey with John by her side.

John became interested in law around the time that his family grew from two to four. He and Janice welcomed Tim and Tina within two years. John worked during the day and studied at night. He and Janice persevered. She somehow managed to rein in their two toddlers while he pursued and eventually earned a law degree from John Marshall, which served as the foundation upon which a new career was built; an insurance adjuster in any state needed to have a deep understanding of the law.

As time passed, the family moved due to job transfers to Atlanta, Columbus, Charlotte, Charleston, and Athens. John went where he was needed. He was always fair, and he paid claimants the maximum amount allowed. Eventually, the couple decided to settle in a place where they could own more land. They bought a farm in Danielsville.

During these early years, someone else besides family became important to John. He accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. John joined the Gideons International so that he could share the gospel. With the Gideons, he distributed Bibles to academic institutions, hospitals, hotels, prisons, nursing homes, police and fire stations, and also to military personnel. John was outgoing and cheerful. He rejoiced at leading people to Christ.

While living in Danielsville, John answered the call to preach and became an ordained Baptist minister. In 1978, he began to pastor a church. Glade Baptist Church in Carlton was the church home for him and his family. He and Janice loved the people there, and their church community became like an extended family. They maintained close ties for many years. While serving the congregation of Glade Baptist, the couple developed a clown act that used sleight of hand tricks to relate gospel lessons: “Razzle and Dazzle” entertained children over the course of a decade. John ministered at Glade Baptist Church until he retired in 1989.

John was more than a cherished patriarch; he was a devoted and expressive artist. He was a self-taught master carpenter who built additions to his home and remodeled rooms in his family’s Danielsville residence. He was a lively piano player who played hymns and secular tunes by ear. Family members requested his music during social gatherings on holidays. Not only did he play the piano, but John also sang to family members by phone on their birthdays. He also sang in the church choir and was often heard shouting “Hallelujah” during practices. He agreed with alacrity when piggyback rides were requested, was happy to steer an occupied stroller (inside the house), and readily stocked unpainted birdhouses and blank canvases in case the opportunity arose to paint with a loved one.

John, better known as “Grandpapa” by his family, had a fantastic sense of humor and enjoyed few things more than telling, hearing, and laughing at jokes. He loved to be happy and to make others happy. It was impossible to be near him without noticing both. He appreciated the beauty of snowy landscapes captured in acrylic paint, and he had a voracious sweet tooth, and one of his dearest and most enduring joys was to make people smile.

Family time will be different now. John was loved fiercely and will be grieved fiercely. He is already missed. His family’s mourning is accompanied by a greater thankfulness that he is now with Christ, about whom he preached and whose gospel he passionately shared in life.

Reverend John was preceded in death by his father, John Roy Griffeth Senior; his mother, Leila Mae Lampkin Griffeth; and his sisters, Anne Ray and Mary Dove.

John is survived by his wife of 68 years, Janice Griffeth. He was a proud father, survived by his two children: Tim Griffeth (Jackie) of Danielsville and Tina Smith (Chris) of Danielsville. He was a loving Grandpapa of six grandchildren, survived by: Joshua Griffeth (Jenna) of Franklin Springs; Jennifer Albert (Daniel) of Danielsville; Jon Griffeth (Paige) of Danielsville; Jeremy Griffeth (Abby) of Colbert; Olivia Hilburn (Eddie) of Danielsville; and Rory Smith of Danielsville. He was also doubly blessed with ten great-grandchildren, survived by: Jacob, Carson, Michayla, Dawson, Whitley, Jessa, Addison, Nora, Ed, and Lane.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 14, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., in the Bernstein Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be in Evergreen Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Child Evangelism Fellowship Good News Club, P.O. Box 108, Ila, GA 30647.

Bernstein Funeral Home, Athens, is in charge of arrangements.