Jearline Odebelle Griffin, age 89, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 17, 2022, at INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax, VA.<\/p>\n
She was born on April 10, 1933, in Norfolk, VA to the late Henry Early and Ailene (Sawyer) Brooks.<\/p>\n
Jearline grew up in the Huntersville area of Norfolk, Virginia and attended Norfolk Public Schools.\u00a0 She loved her mother, her father and her sisters and brothers. She had a special bond with her sister Dorothy who we call \u201cAunt Dot\u201d.\u00a0 Throughout the years, they spoke almost every day.\u00a0 Jearline, \u201cMom\u201d as we called her, loved the Lord with all her heart, and said her greatest pride and joy was her children, her family.\u00a0 She was proud to have been sent a husband, who was her best friend, and they were in a loving marriage for 72 years.\u00a0 Mom never referred to Dad by his first name when speaking to him; it was always \u201chun\u201d or \u201choney\u201d.\u00a0 Their love is an example of what we all should strive to have in our lives here on earth.\u00a0 She was his Queen!<\/p>\n
Jearline is predeceased by her parents, her brother William L Brooks, her sister, Joyce Brooks Askew and her first-born child, Jeremiah J. Griffin, Jr. (Melvia), who helped Mom raise his six siblings and helped set life-long standards for the siblings to follow.<\/p>\n
Jearline leaves to celebrate her life and honor her legacy, her loving husband\u00a0 Rev. Dr. Jeremiah J. Griffin, Sr.; six children: Gerald Griffin (Bonita), Priscilla Griffin, Dr. Larry Griffin, DMA (Jeanne), Virgil Griffin (Marisol), Darrall Griffin, and Sandra Griffin; five grandchildren: Arif Griffin, Jennifer Griffin, Dr. Dauda Griffin, MD, Dr. Austin Griffin, MD, a special grandchild, Jerry B. Griffin, who Mom and Dad raised, Carmen Griffin Benitez, Carlos Griffin Benitez, Nicholas Griffin Benitez, Pedro Garcia; two great grand children: Olivia Burge and Noah Burge, her sister Dorothy Odom; brothers Nathaniel Brooks (Gladys) and Alton Brooks (Beulah), and a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family members.<\/p>\n
Jearline Griffin will be remembered for being an avid Master Quilter, a brilliant, God-fearing woman with an amazing memory, who valued education and ensured all her children knew the Lord and pursued higher education and attended college.\u00a0 She was a stellar fighter who never raised her voice, and never complained.\u00a0 Mom was dearly loved by GOD, her husband, and her family.\u00a0 She will always be with us in spirit, for her memory lives on in our hearts. Her favorite song was \u201cBefore the Next Tear Drop Falls\u201d by Kenny Rogers.<\/p>\n
A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at 2:00 PM at Stonewall Memory Gardens.<\/p>\n