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Obituary for Shirley Payne Griffin

Mrs. Shirley Maxine Payne Griffin was born October 24, 1924 in Bridgeport, WV to Elza Abert Payne and Bernice Gertrude Stout Payne. When she was four her family moved to Salem, WV where they lived until after she had graduated from Salem Business College and moved to Washington, DC.

Shirley married Carl Ellington Griffin in 1948 and they had two children, Robert Dale Griffin and Janet Griffin Klein. Shirley was a civilian budget analyst for the U.S. Air Force for 22 years, first at Bowling Air Force Base and then at the Air Force Systems Command at Andrews Air Force Base. After retiring in 1982, she moved to Luray, VA, and then to Whitings Neck, Shepherdstown, and Martinsburg, all in WV, before moving to Polk City, FL in May 2001. Shirley was an active and beloved member of the First Baptist Church of Polk City.

Shirley loved piano music and gospel music and watching movies. She loved living in the country and enjoyed nature, including pretty trees and flowers, and watching the birds and animals. She enjoyed knitting and counted cross-stitch and gave many of her beautiful creations to family and friends as gifts.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents: Elza Abert Payne and Bernice Gertrude Stout Payne; and her eight siblings: brothers Theodore Payne and James Payne; and sisters: Kathryn Payne, Gertrude Chedister, Frances Watkins, Jean Hawker, Rachel Nickell, and Ruth Hannah.

She is survived by her son Robert Dale Griffin of Plano, TX and her daughter Janet Griffin Klein of Lovettsville, VA; grandson Stephen Gregory Klein of Culpeper, VA; and her four granddaughters: Karen Elizabeth Klein of Lovettsville, VA; Nozomi Griffin Walker of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Michiko Griffin and Hanako Griffin of Plano, TX; and six great-grandchildren: Annalise Klein, Elijah Klein, Joshua Klein, Sofia Klein, Azure Walker and Patrick Walker; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received at Burnside Funeral Home, 607 S. Virginia Avenue, Bridgeport, on Friday, October 7, 2016, from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., where services will be held at 12:30 p.m. with Pastor Steve Felder presiding. Interment will follow in Bridgeport Cemetery.
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