Elizabeth Ophelia (Smith) Griffin was born on February 4, 1926 to the union of the late George W. Smith and Marietta Bridges Smith in Christian County, Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
Ophelia, as she was most often called, was educated in the Trigg County School System and baptized at Corinth Baptist Church in Cadiz, Kentucky as a young child. She moved to Indianapolis, Indiana in 1943 and worked as a domestic worker for many years. (Prior to that she worked in several hotels in the food services area.)
Ophelia joined Mt. Olive Baptist Church where she worked diligently until she married Hillmon Griffin in 1958 and moved her membership to Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church. While at Mt. Moriah she sang in the Choir, served as a Deaconess, worked with the Children’s Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, Starlight Band, Church Kitchen Committee, as well as the Baptist Training Union (BTU). After a number of faithful years she followed her husband to Antioch Missionary Baptist church where she faithfully served as Church Clerk, Superintendent and Sunday School teacher, a member of the Choir, Usher Board, Mother’s Board, Kitchen Ministry, and a faithf...[more]
member of the Union District.
Ophelia’s unwavering love for Christ allowed her to be a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She loved her family and enjoyed cooking and feeding others. Her grandchildren will miss “grandma’s pancakes.”
Ophelia is proceeded in death by her husband, Rev. Hillmon Griffin, two daughters, Annie L. Sutton and Elizabeth A. Bradford and one son, Melvin E. Griffin. She leaves to cherish her memory a son, Michael W. Dillard, Madison, Wisconsin; three daughters, Shirley J. Howard (Anthony), Jacqueline Y. Smith both of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Sharon M. Beasley (Gary) of Atlanta, Georgia; one sister, Malinda Smith, and one brother, Ross JW Smith, both of Indianapolis, Indiana. 24 Grandchildren; Vincent, Theresa, and Steven Sutton, Tina Peters and Teon Johnson, Talesha Miller, Shameka Eans, Jason Montague, Aaron, Ashley and Ebony Dillard, James Johnson, David, Damien and Justin Tillis. Antwonn and Brandon Jefferson, LaChelle Griffin, Adris Jones, Chaka Hillmon, LaMaine Dillard, Chrishauna and Chris Johnson, and Bakari Smith. Along with 47 great grandchildren and 22 great-great grandchildren. A host of nieces, nephews and special friends.
Crown Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery
Indianapolis, IN 46208
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