Ida Mae Griffin

Obituary For Ida Mae Griffin

Mrs. Ida Mae Griffin, 91, died May 30, 2019. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at New St. Paul Baptist Church in Eden. Burial will be Chapel Hill Progressive Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Ruffin. The family will receive friends on Wednesday at the church from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m.

Ida Mae Griffin departed this life on May 30, 2019 at her home in Eden, NC. She was born February 15, 1928 to the late Lewis Hairston, Sr., and Ida Louvenia Hairston. While she was named after her mother, family and friends affectionately called her “Tootsie”. Born and raised in Eden, North Carolina, where she was educated in the public school system, Tootsie enjoyed helping her mother bake and when she was of age, she put her education to good use by baking cakes and pies and selling them to family and friends; she even sold pies to one of the local community stores. She worked as a housekeeper for several families during her early years. She broke barriers by becoming the first woman of color to be employed at Fieldcrest Mills in Eden, NC. Tootsie accepted Christ at a very early age, and she believed that honesty and integrity was of the utmost importance. Tootsie would eventually meet the love of her life, Forest Odell Griffin, with whom she married and started a family. She would say to her grandchildren, “I met that man and Lord Have Mercy… it was love at first sight!” They were united in marriage on July19, 1947. To this union five children were born. Her first-born daughter would call her “Muh”, and not only did the children to follow call her by that name, but so did all their friends, cousins and neighboring friends. Now “Tootsie” would also answer to the name “Muh”. On Sunday mornings she could always be found in church and she made sure that her family attended regularly. She was a faithful member of The New Saint Paul Baptist Church and rarely missed Sunday service until she was no longer able to physically attend. Ida Mae’s life of faith, courage, love and commitment to family was a testament of who she was as a person. She lived and breathed these characteristics and never met a stranger. She deposited this same love into every person she met. Her example of reaching out to others taught us that love is indestructible and only increases by being shared. She leaves to cherish her memory and celebrate her life a husband of 72 years, Forest Odell Griffin, three children - Ann Forestene Griffin Sumler of Eden, NC, Lewis Clifton Griffin (Cheryl) of Ruffin, NC and Connie Helena Griffin Slade (Henry) of Eden, NC; eight grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, her cousin Nelson Hairston, Jr., who was like a brother, a host of adopted grands, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Ida Mae was preceded in death by her parents, her firstborn son Forest, her daughter Venessa Kay Griffin Allen, brothers - Harry Hairston, Lewis Hairston, Ivory Hairston and Samuel Hairston, and her two sisters Emma Lou Tucker and Helen "Red" Pinnix.