Joan Kintz Griffin

Joan was born on December 19, 1936 in Fort Collins, Colorado. She attended Greeley High School in Greeley, Colorado. She went to Gulf Park College for Women, a “finishing school” in Gulf Port, Mississippi for two years and then transferred and graduated from the University of Alabama where she was an active member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. At Gulf Park, Joan was elected May Queen in 1955, and at Alabama, she was selected as “top Corolla beauty” by Pat Boone in 1956 and was also Miss Homecoming of 1956, which was, according to the yearbook staff, “the first time in history for one girl to hold both honors during the same year”.

Joan’s beauty shone through in her warm smile and the sparkle in her beautiful blue eyes. Joan moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1961 and lived there for over fifty years. She taught school for many years receiving her Masters in Education at Georgia State University, attending classes at night and teaching in the Atlanta public school system during the day. She kept a grueling schedule to provide for her girls.

To say she loved shopping is an understatement, and she was always impeccably well dressed. She loved to travel around the world, extensively researching the places she would go. Travels were documented by her numerous photographs which she meticulously organized into photo albums, too many to count. For many years, she and her husband, Warren, whom she married in 1982, spent three months at the horse races at the Santa Anita Park in California, and Joan educated herself on the strategy of betting on horses in order to win on her $1 bets.

Joan was a member of the Capital City Club in Atlanta.

She was an avid needle pointer, painter and antique collector. Joan adored taking her grandchildren to ride the Pink Pig and then shopping with them at Lenox and Phipps afterwards. She remained a faithful Alabama football fan, always loudly cheering for the Crimson Tide. Joan loved her children and grandchildren more than anything and enjoyed having fun with them most of all.

Joan is survived by her daughters, Melanie Patton Morgan (Matthew), and Amanda Patton Williamson (Todd); her beloved grandchildren, Emma Morgan Melody (John), Evan Morgan, Louisa Morgan, Liza Williamson and Margaret Williamson; her great grandchildren, Hudson Melody and Charlie Melody; and her sister-in-law, Mitzi Brown Kintz, niece, Jennifer Kintz Goodrich, and nephew, Andrew Kintz, and their families.

Joan is preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Louise Kintz, her brother Peter K. Kintz and her husband, Warren S. Griffin.

Her family has greatly missed her joyful, sometimes wacky and fun loving spirit all the years she has fought this battle.

The family extends profound and heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Spring Arbor of Richmond, now Hermitage Deep Run, especially Linda and Kim, Andrew, Madison, Lana and Susan, and kind, tender and loving Aida. In addition, we thank Rich Bemis for his continued pastoral care over the years while she was in Richmond, and Suncrest Hospice, especially Donna, for their care for our mom.

Mostly, we thank God for the life of Joan Kintz Griffin.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, March 2, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of Christ the King with a private inurnment at Arlington Memorial Park to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Joan may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or a charity of one’s choice.