James Jackson Griffith Jr.

Sept. 8, 1914 – February 6, 2012.

COLUMBIA - A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 11, 2012 at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 3200 Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29204. Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.

James was born in High Point, NC, on September 8, 1914, to James Jackson Griffith, Sr. and Lil Isabel Myers Griffith. Raised in Kernersville, NC, he graduated from North Carolina State College in 1935. In 1941, he married Elizabeth Hamilton of Dallas, TX. They were married for 59 years until her death in 2000. During World War II, he served in the 407th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force, successfully completing 26 missions as a B17 pilot and squadron commander while stationed in England. During this time, he was awarded the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Post-war, James was employed by and retired from Tennessee Eastman in Kingsport, TN. James was an avid gardener, and many appreciated his prize-winning roses.

Predeceased by his wife and son Hugh Ware, James is survived by daughter, Betsy Miller (L. Fred) of Columbia, SC; and son, James Jackson Griffith, III (Bete) of Vicosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil and grandchildren, James Miller (Yolanda) of Glendora, CA, Susan Miller of San Francisco, CA, Angela Maciel Detweiler (Drew) of Mountain View, CA, James Maciel Griffith (Carrie) of Lenoir, NC and Allan Maciel Griffith of Belo Horizonte, Brazil and also three great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Laurel Crest Endowment Trust, 100 Joseph Walker Drive, West Columbia, SC, 29169.