The final chapter of Gary Lewis Griffith’s life was written on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. He was 74 years old. He was born on Oct. 6, 1947, to the late Johnnie B. and Veola Walker Griffith. He passed away peacefully at his home place where he resided for many years in Jefferson Davis County.

Funeral services were held on Friday, June 17, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Westhaven Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Magee. Interment followed at Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery in Mt. Olive. Rev. Perry Feazell and Rev. Ralph Walker officiated the services. Services were entrusted to Shaffer-Collins Funeral Home, Inc. of Yazoo City.

Mr. Gary Griffith graduated from J. E. Johnson High School in 1966. After graduating, he was drafted into the U. S. Army and fought in the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1969, then became a member of the National Guard.

Gary was the first black Deputy Sheriff in Jefferson Davis County. He was very talented. He once built a radio that actually played music and won first place at the high school fair. Gary also worked in horticulture for years and could grow just about any kind of fruit or vegetable. He was last employed with Blaine Construction and was one of the best heavy equipment operators around.

Gary entered into holy matrimony to the late Beatrice Drones and to this union two children were born. He was preceded in death by three siblings, Vernon, Billy Ray and Johnnie Allen Griffith.

Gary leaves cherished memories to his family; one daughter, Shagaria Griffith; one son, Jeramie (Brenita Faye) Griffith of Mt. Olive; two grandsons, Justin Jewan Griffith and Caldren Clark; two granddaughters, Trinity BreSha Griffith and Sierra Lampton; one sister, Novella (Calvin) Graves of Prentiss, one brother, Andrea (Glenda) Sterling of Mendenhall and a very special companion, Gladys Ann Magee. Gary will be sorely missed by his family and many, many close friends.