Therese K. Griffin’s children; Suzanne (Kim) Guske, Terrie (Charles) Malone, John (Beth) Griffin, and Jim (Sharon) Griffin want to share with everyone how blessed we are to have had such a dignified, resourceful, interesting, and loving mother to enjoy life for 94 years. She was one of eight children born in Fitzgerald to German immigrants, George and Theresa Kratzer.
After graduating from Mt. DeSales Catholic School, she and two friends drove to the 1936 New York Worlds Fair, then returned to Atlanta to see “Gone With The Wind” at the Fox Theatre the second day of its premier. She worked at a local law firm for almost 60 years. She married John Harmon Griffin, raised her children, took in and cared for her mother for 20 years. Widowed 30 years ago, she had a lot of life left to enjoy. With the help of Suzanne and Kim, she achieved her goal of visiting all 50 states. Jim took her to the Holy Land, and with friends she toured 15 foreign countries. During a family cruise, at age 85, she jumped in the ocean and hand fed sting rays. At 88, she took her first motorcycle ride. At 90, she moved to Perry to be closer to Terrie, where she shared and enjoyed their many events and family outings. She loved spending time at the lake with John, having breakfast at sunrise on a boat and moonlight rides to watch fireworks. She wanted all eleven grandchildren to get college degrees, and they did. She wanted all fourteen great-grandchildren to be born beautiful, and they were. Her loving baby brother, Francis Kratzer, and a sister-in-law Mary Kratzer, have always been an important part of our lives. Frankie Cowan, Janet Kennedy, and all other nieces and nephews mean so much to us. A devout Catholic, she was so proud and humbled to receive the Bishop Gartland Service Award from the Catholic Diocese of Savannah.
The family will have a private burial. We will celebrate her life with a mass and gathering of friends at a future date in Fitzgerald. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Williams Catholic Church, 715 S. Merrimac Drive, Fitzgerald, GA 31750, c/o Mary Spicer.