Lifestyles
Josephine Parris Griffitt to celebrate 80th birthday
By family and friends
Sep 6, 2008

Josephine Griffitt, former teacher in the Bonham Schools, celebrates her 80^th birthday with family and friends on Saturday, September 6, 2008 in Salado, Texas.

She was born on September 1, 1928, in the Rocky Branch community of  Morris County in northeast Texas.  Her parents were Joseph Andrew and Lorena Jones Parris.

She attended school at Rocky Branch through the seventh grade, then rode the bus to attend Omaha High School.  She was valedictorian of her 1945 graduating class.

On August 24, 1947 she married James R. Griffitt whom she met while they were both attending East Texas State Teachers College  (Currently Texas A&M Commerce).

They left Commerce for Sam Houston State University so Mr. Griffitt  could pursue a Smith-Hughes certification in order to qualify to teach vocational agriculture. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in business administration.  While in attendance, she worked within the main walls of the Texas Prison at Huntsville.

In August of 1949 they moved to Ivanhoe, Texas where they both taught at North Fannin School for ten years.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Griffitt taught in Richardson before moving to Bonham in 1959.

The Griffitts lived in Bonham for 35 years.  Mrs. Griffitt dedicated 24 years to the Bonham Schools.  She taught fourth grade and was later a speech therapist.  They moved to Salado in 1995 to be closer to their two daughters, Jyl and Jan, and their families.

Jyl is married to Randy Cain and lives in San Antonio.  Jan is married to Robbie Middleton and lives in Belton. 

The Griffitts have seven grandchildren; Landon Middleton and his wife Lisa, Connor Middleton, Courtney Kuhn and her husband Tim, Meredith Josephine Cain and Camille Cain.

If you would like to send Mrs. Griffitt a birthday wish, please do so at snip22@embarqmail.com.