Camille G. Barranco

Camille Griffith Barranco, 91, the most “precious” woman, peacefully passed away into the arms of Jesus, on Thursday, October 20, 2022, with her family by her side.

Camille was born at the top of Blue Mountain, MS, to Reuben and Clara Griffith on July 4, 1931. A true patriot, she loved the fact that she shared a birthday with this great country. Each year she proudly sported a red, white, and blue outfit, always accessorized with her pearls like the true Southern lady she was.

She attended Central High School in Jackson, MS, and was a proud member of the class of 1949. While at Central, Camille was editor in chief of the Cotton Boll yearbook and a member of the ROTC in Company B. Camille was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. This was exemplified by the fact that she was voted a class favorite, a beauty, most versatile, and friendliest.

On August 5, 1950, Camille married the love of her life and favorite dance partner, John Salvo Barranco, Sr. They were married for 71 loving years and died a year apart almost to the day. Camille and John had five children together, to whom they passed on their love of music. Even at the end, you would find Camille in her home singing and cutting a rug on her walker with her son, Vince, on the drums.

Marrying into an Italian family, Camille quickly learned how to cook and became arguably the best chef in town. In typical Camille fashion, she shared her gift of cooking with others by regularly having her friends and family over for spaghetti and meatballs, and by delivering her famous cinnamon rolls around the Jackson area.

Camille raised her children as a stay-at-home mom until 1965. One of her key lessons she wanted to pass on was the importance of living a life pleasing to Jesus and taught her children that “pretty is as pretty does.” She then worked as a secretary at MS Highway Department and later at Jackson City Hall. Hoping to continue her public service, she ran for City Commissioner of Jackson, where her slogan was, “Camille, she’s for real.”

Camille will be remembered as the most beautiful, faith-filled woman. She genuinely loved all people and considered her sole purpose on this earth to be the hands of Jesus. Strangers were a foreign concept to Camille because she wanted everyone to be her friend. One of her favorite bible verses, was 1 John 4:4, “Greater is He who is in me, than he who is in the world”, which she constantly lived and demonstrated. She did this by giving someone on the side of the road a ride, volunteering for several organizations that assisted with special needs children, singing in the choir at St. Richard, attending her Concerned Women for America meetings, or simply flashing her sweet smile at everyone that passed her.

Camille was preceded in death by her parents, Reuben and Clara Griffith; her brother, Dr. Reuben William Griffith, Jr.; her husband, John Salvo Barranco; her son, Michael Barranco; and daughter-in-law, Teresa Barranco. Survivors are her four children, John Barranco, Jr, Pam Barranco Jew (Sam), Vince Barranco, Lesa Barranco Nuzzo (Al), and daughter-in-law, Jene Barranco. She is also survived by her 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Camille lived a long and faithful life. Her family is at peace knowing she is with her Savior and beloved husband and son. The family would like to thank the caregivers at Compassus Hospice and at Hospice Ministries for the wonderful care and assistance they provided our mother.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, October 24, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Richard Catholic Church, with visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Parkway Memorial Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. Richard Catholic Church or a charity of your choice.