OBITUARY
David Franklin Griffin
September 30, 1958 – February 1, 2019
David F. Griffin age 60 passed away suddenly on Friday, February 1, 2019. Dave was born on September 30, 1958 in Bristol, TN because the maternity ward was across the state line. He grew up in Bristol, Virginia, the son of Bobby and Frieda Bass Griffin. Preceded in death by his mother, he is survived by his wife Kimberly Armstrong Griffin, his father, brother Danny and wife Suzy (Ackaouy), niece Lauren Griffin and husband, Jamey Rector; nephews Taylor and Logan Griffin; niece Reagan Griffin and great nephews Jaylen and Roman; mother-in-law Barbara Armstrong Theel, sister-in-law Shirley Foor; niece Nannette Moore and husband Kordearl and great nieces Sophie and Sadie. Dave attended John Battle High School and graduated from Virginia High in 1976. After graduating from Carson-Newman College (University) Dave earned a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Dave served as minister of music and youth in Maryland and as music minister in Knoxville. In 1996, Dave and his wife moved to Knoxville to be closer to family. He worked for Covenant Health. Dave will be remembered by friends and family for his unique sense of humor, his love of music and sports and his dogs. The family will receive friends at Berry Highland West from 6:00-8:00 Thursday, February 7 with the funeral to follow. Burial will be Friday, Feb. 8 at 2:00 p.m. at Susong Cemetery in Bristol, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley. Condolences may be offered at www.BerryHighlandWest.com
DONATIONS
- Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley
Services
- Gathering of Friends Thursday, February 7, 2019
- Funeral Service Thursday, February 7, 2019
- Graveside Service Friday, February 8, 2019
REMEMBERING
David Franklin Griffin
have a memory or condolence to add?
ADD A MEMORYterry fletcher
February 9, 2019
Please accept our greatest sympathy and prayers for your loss.
Fletcher Family
wayne chaney
February 8, 2019
So sorry for your loss, if I can do anything for you please let me know.
Deanna and Kenneth Reynolds
February 7, 2019
Dear Bobby, there are no words to express our sincere sympathy for your loss. You and your family will be in our prayers that God will give you strength and comfort now and in the days to follow.
God bless you, Deanna & Kenneth
Rebeca orsi
February 7, 2019
Thinking of you and wishing you peace and comfort. Rebeca Moreno Orsi
JoAnne Thompson
February 7, 2019
Kim,....there will be another day,....I know your heart is so heavy with missing Dave, ...I know he has crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and I know his little pet was waiting for him as well as his Mom. The memories you have will help you thru the days to come. God Bless
Carol Eads
February 7, 2019
Dave was a very smart and kind young man. He will be missed a lot. He was always willing to help everyone- Will remember his family in prayers.
Dana Lund
February 7, 2019
Dave and I worked together back during Cariten days with Covenant Health and after some shifting from company turbulence he returned as I did to work again for Covenant at KBOS. He was an amazingly kind man and had a voice and gift for music that touched the soul. Always he listened to me....over the break room table we shared many a conversation from health, fun adventures to world concerns. I always loved that when he said he would pray for you it didn't end there. He kept following up checking on conditions and seeing if there was any other way he could help or if there were additional specifics he could add to his prayers. He and his wife loved dogs too and when our Chihuahua Cookie Dog passed away he cried with me and afterward he would always ask me when we were getting another. When I had to retire due to health last Spring Dave was one I missed and thought of. One day just before Christmas I was in Knoxville and our new Sassie Dog was with me I decided to stop by work and called Dave out to meet our new baby girl. He was so excited to meet her and see me that day...I'm so glad I stopped in to visit with him. Even if he was working and we only had a minute to talk that last memory was good. I'm thankful for that visit and many wonderful memories... hated to hear of his passing Prayers for family and friends
Jody Morgan
February 7, 2019
I was very shocked hearing that Dave was gone. He left us for a better place, so happy for him so very sad for us ♥
Dave was full of kindness, thoughtfulness and love for his family and friends♥ He
will truly be missed ♥
Much love to all of Dave's family,
Jody Morgan
KBO Family
Debra Gasche
February 7, 2019
Dave,
Even though I haven't known you a long time you will be missed.. When I walk by your desk it doesn't seem real it seems like a bad dream. I am glad I got to know you I will miss asking you for your help with computer issues and talking about your Dogs...RIP DAVE from Debra Gasche.
Becky Clark Blevins
February 6, 2019
I was tremendously blessed to know David "Gerff" all my growing up years and through our wonderful church youth years. We were always at church together at Euclid Ave Baptist in Bristol. We were also childhood sweethearts. Our families were always close. David had the sweetest kindest heart and everyone loved being around him. We were blessed to be in a solid church youth program and i know our youth group is shattered by this sad news. Heaven is much brighter with our sweet "Gerff" there. We love you, "Gerff".
Galena Mika
February 6, 2019
I was so sad to hear of Dave's passing.
I send my condolences to Kim and the family. I met Dave in 2001 working at Cariten. We both worked on Senior Healthcare with Dave handling Customer Service and I handled the Collections/Finance side. He was the big dog! I left Cariten and eventually lost contact with Dave until his resume hit my desk one day. He interviewed with me and came back to work for Covenant. Dave and I always talked sports, most importantly football. We were fans of rival teams. Dave was a faithful Green bay Packers fan and I'm a Chgo Bears fan. We enjoyed tugging at each other when our teams were playing. Dave also shared his love of music with everyone. One of his favorite bands was Chicago. I always enjoyed listening to Dave sing at our Christmas Luncheon. He liked to give the history of the song he was singing which added a personal touch to his performance. Dave was a great friend who always had a listening ear. He checked on me often when my mom was sick and recently just dropped in to see how I was doing. I will miss seeing him each Morning. In his honor I may have to cheer for Green bay just once this year.
Saralyn Banks
February 6, 2019
Dave was a thoughtful coworker with a great sense of humor. He cared about his colleagues and took great care in his work day in and day out. He was always more than willing to help out anywhere he was needed. Most importantly, I could really tell how much he loved his family. He will be greatly missed!
Debbie Stair
February 6, 2019
Dave was a good coworker, very helpful and conscientious, a good hearted man. I and many others were blessed to know him. My heartfelt prayers to his wife, Kim, and all his family. God's comfort and grace to each of you.
Julie Pratt
February 6, 2019
I am sad to hear of Dave's passing. He was a very kind person. On occasion at work he would stop by and speak with Brenda (now retired) about her dogs and speak of his. I would hear them tell their dog stories from my cube. I enjoyed hearing their stories. You could tell there was a kindness in his heart. I will keep your family and friends in my prayers.
Susan Key
February 5, 2019
I have know David since I entered high school in 1975. He was a very popular senior and larger than life to this young underclassman. We eventually ended up being co-workers and great friends. He was a very important, impressionable part of my high school years. I loved David and his family very much. I know you are singing with your sweet mom right now. May God wrap his loving arms around Kim and the rest of your family.
Kathy Evans
February 5, 2019
Dave was part of our payroll work 'family'. He was very good about helping me out with my payrolls when I needed help and he always finished my summaries on my days off. He was the only male in the department so I am sure that he was probably embarrassed at times with some of our conversations but we never really got anything over on him. Dave was always the first one in the office every morning and we shared 'corners' in our break room refrigerator. If I did put my lunch in there before he did his, nine times out of ten, he would tell me "your lunch was in my spot so I set it out." He had a unique sense of humor so he kept us on our toes.
Dave was also very kind when any of us had any sadness going on in our lives. He was always the first one to ask about my family and always really seemed to care and listen when I answered.
Dave really loved you, Kim, and I know you were his 'rock'. I will really miss those times when he would ask you for sausage balls and, sure enough, you made them and the next day, we would have them. He bragged on you and your cooking.
We will really miss having Dave here with us but I know that he is watching over you and singing and dancing in Heaven with his Mother and his little dogs that he loved so much. Please let us know if you need anything at all.
Iris Hancock
February 5, 2019
I also work at Covenant Health and would meet Dave every morning at the time clock. He always had a smile and said Good Morning. I watched Dave eat lunch everyday as we were in the breakroom at the same time and I commented on the sandwiches he would bring and how they looked so delicious like they came from a restaurant and he told me that his wife made his lunch and she is the one that made him those wonderful sandwiches. I miss seeing him each morning with his Good Morning before I begin my day. May God give the family peace during this difficult time.
Lauren Kosier
February 5, 2019
Dave was a very special man. I saw him every single morning. He always had a smile on his face and stopped to speak to me , It did not matter if it was Morning, Noon, or Evening. We had very good conversations. He was so encouraging and kind hearted. I can truly say he made my experience at Covenant Health better. He was very gifted musically and always sang his heart out and you could tell his heart was in each note and word. It was a pleasure to have him in our Caroling group each year. When he was unable to join us it was like a part of our group was missing. Still it did not put Dave down, he continued to be sweet, encouraging and loved hearing us sing and continued to share his heart with me. He will always have a special place in my heart as one who truly lived what he believed. God Bless you Dave for always sharing yourself with me, and your family for letting you become a part of my work family.
Shirley Smith
February 5, 2019
Dave was one of those rare individuals who is genuinely kind and caring, not because he thought is was expected, but because he was just being himself. I worked with him at KBOS and although I was in a different department, he never missed an opportunity to say hello. I lost my mom last year after a long battle with cancer. When others seemed to grow tired of showing concern, Dave continued to ask about my mom and my own wellbeing every time I saw him. He never met her, but was the first person to sign her digital guest book when she passed in NC. He told me about his own mom, who he had loved dearly. When I got married, he would jokingly ask if my husband was behaving properly. We had many conversations about different musical artists. I will miss him terribly.
Karen Lenderman
February 5, 2019
Dave was so kind, helpful, personable, and well liked here at Covenant Health. He will be sorely missed. Prayers are with Kim and the family.
Nancy Beck
February 5, 2019
I worked with Dave at Covenant Health (finance). He loved his wife, his pets, music and sports. We talked about basketball every week. He went out of his way to make sure that the employees whose payroll he processed were taken care of. We will certainly miss him!
Pam Gray Dunkin
February 5, 2019
I have fond memories of Gerff. The short time we dated in high school hold good memories. He and his family always treat with kindness and respect. Please know his family is in my thoughts and prayers.
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IN THE CARE OF