John Roger Griffin Jr.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved step-father Cecil Lee McCoy and his lovely wife Jean Sawyer Brinson Griffin.

John attended grade and high school in Aulander and was active in sports and church. He was the first president of the initial chapter of the Bertie County 4H Club and the Beta Club. As a high school senior, he received the coveted Scholarship Sportsmanship Leadership Award. After graduation, John attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. In December 1950, duty called and he volunteered into the US Air Force as a private. He attended Officer’s Candidate School and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant. He later attained the rank of Major in the US Air Force Reserves.

In December 1956, John began work as a Sales Representative for Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC in Elizabeth City, where he met his first wife Jean. He became District Manager of BCBS in New Bern and then District Manager of the BCBS Raleigh Office. As work progressed, he became a Senior Director for BCBS and then Senior Marketing Director for 18 years. John retired from BCBS in 1994 and he and Jean moved back to New Bern to enjoy retirement. In retirement, John enjoyed playing golf and gin rummy at New Bern Country Club, hunting and fishing at South River and working in his yard and garden. In 2005, he lost Jean, his wife of 49 years. In 2007, he met and married Joy Ipock Hepler, who truly brought him joy until the end of his life. He is survived by his wife Joy Ipock Hepler, his son Alan Brinson (wife June Biggerstaff Brinson), his daughter Nancy Griffin Livingston Huff, his granddaughter Anna Kathryn Livingston Florence (husband Chris Florence), his grandson McCoy Griffin Livingston (wife Amy Murphree Livingston) and five great grandchildren Savannah Grace Florence, Sawyer Ashby Florence, Sadie Elizabeth Florence, Harper Jean Livingston and Canyon McCoy Livingston.

Funeral arrangements are by Cotten Funeral Home and an interment at Garber Methodist Church Columbarium, will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the charity of your choice.