Earlene Savage Griffin

After 89 years of laboring in her Lord Jesus’ vineyards, Earlene Savage Griffin left to be with Him on Saturday, December 7, 2024. She was a true blessing to those in her life, and had a particular gift of providing solid spiritual guidance and teaching others about love through her actions. She was often better to others than herself.

Earlene’s early life was spent on Democrat Rd in Oakville(Memphis), Tennessee as the only child of Brinson Savage and Florine Langston Savage. Although she was an only child, she was surrounded by cousins on both sides of the Langston/Savage families. She was loving and faithful to family, helping with the elderly and children in her extended family. She loved to cook and even dreamed of serving fancy meals to her future husband and two children. If she had a boy, she would name him Kenneth and if a girl, she would name her Margo (after the heroine on the radio series “The Shadow”).

Life didn’t quite work out that way, but she did have a daughter, Margo. However, her search for better job opportunities led her to California where she found work at MetLife and assisted her single uncle with his children. Leaving her daughter with her parents (who spoiled her rotten), she set out to make a life for them both. Before that, Mother and daughter were able to create so many memories -sitting at her home altar, praying and singing gospel songs, getting food from the hot tamale man and watching horror movies while they ate. It was during this precious time that she taught Margo the difference between religion and having a relationship with Jesus, Jehovah God and the Holy Spirit.

What a gift.

While apart, Dear (the name Margo called her because she couldn’t say Mother Dear), would send gifts and provided visits to California that opened a whole new world to her child. They would later reunite with her parents in Memphis creating a small, but very happy family unit.

Some years later Margo moved to Raleigh and married Kenneth (did you catch that?) Like so many other intergenerational families, Dear and Florine followed and moved to NC to be with them. It was wonderful and aggravating to have three generations of strong-willed, independent women reunited.

What a gift.

She is survived by a daughter, Margo Henke and son-in-law, Kenneth Henke, cousins - Sonny Jones, Rodell, Randy and Patricia Langston, Mary Balint, Addie Moore and other relatives and friends who loved and cared for her. Special thanks to her PACE family who provided care and enrichment until the end.

Earlene is deeply loved and will be greatly missed by those whose lives she touched - especially her daughter.

Family will receive friends on Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 12 Noon until 1:00 pm at Apex Funeral Home in Apex, NC. Funeral Services, officiated by Rev. Todd McCauley, will begin at 1:00 pm in the funeral home chapel. There will be a procession to Holly Springs Cemetery in Holly Springs, NC for a final good-bye.

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