Ken is preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Janice C. Griffith. Ken is survived by his son Kenneth Griffith, III and wife Angela Griffith, his two daughters Lori Carroll, Patricia Hawk and husband Geoff Hawk: his sisters Carol Holt and Pamela Griffith. Ken is also survived by his five grandchildren Erin (Bill) Draffin, Jena (Logan) Creed, Ashely (Anthony) McClam, Kenny (Katie) Griffith and Ella Hawk; his eleven great grandchildren Charlotte Draffin, Mason Draffin, George Creed, Olivia Creed, Jackson Griffith, Parker Griffith, Sawyer Griffith, Isaiah McClam, Mariah McClam, Josiah, McClam and Sariah McClam. Ken was preceded in death by his Father Kenneth H. Griffith, Sr., his mother Elizabeth Griffith, and his sister Debra G. Shafer.
Kenneth was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina, graduated from Central High School in Charlotte and attended Wingate University. Ken worked for Blue Cross and Blue Shield for a time, then began working for Nationwide Insurance. Ken worked with his wife faithfully at his side to build the Ken Griffith Nationwide Insurance Agency. In his agency, Ken went on to be one of Nationwide's top performing and award-winning agents. His success included insuring large accounts such as The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, Stanback Headache Powders, Basic Electric Company and over 14 Wendy's Restaurants in the Charlotte and surrounding areas.
Ken was an avid bass fisherman and a member of the Matthews Bass Club where he also served as the club's chaplain for many years. Ken won many bass fishing tournaments and was the inspiration for the club's now "Griffy Award" that is awarded to the fisherman with the biggest blunder or hilarious mistake during a tournament.
Ken's greatest passion was prison ministry that was founded through his church, Christian Life Center. Ken led the prison ministry to the inmates of Cabarrus County Correctional Facility in Mt. Pleasant, NC for 22 years. Ken preached and worshiped every Tuesday night with the inmates and would often hold baptisms in an old horse trough along with his pastor, Mark Matthews. Together they baptized hundreds of inmates into the family of God. Ken's deepest love was the ministry to these men and to see them set free in their spirits and hearts.
Ken was a member of and was very active in his church, Christian Life Center helping with various outreaches, workdays, grounds clean up, family events and ushering. Ken is fondly known by church members for his loud, "That's right!" and "Amen!" during any given sermon.
Ken will always be remembered as a loving, encouraging and supportive son, brother, husband, father, father-in-law, Paw Paw, uncle and friend. The love he imparted will forever be alive and well inside everyone he knew. Ken's joyous personality, positive outlook, great sense of humor and deep faith in Jesus Christ will always be impactful to the lives of those who knew him. He will never be forgotten.
Family will greet friends starting at 1pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at McEwen Funeral Service located at 5716 Monroe Road in Charlotte. Funeral service will begin at 2pm in the McEwen chapel with burial immediately following at Sharon Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Ken's name to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org).
Condolences may be left for the family at www.McEwenFS.com.
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